According to the English newspaper The Guardian, the selections of England and Wales plan a joint action to challenge FIFA, in the World Cup. Team captains Gareth Bale and Harry Kane must wear a rainbow-colored captain’s sash with the phrase “One Love”.
This decision came after football’s governing body failed to respond to requests from several countries to wear the rainbow armband as a gesture against discrimination and in support of LGBTQ+ rights. Instead, captains were instructed to wear a different banner each day, promoting social messages such as “Football Unites the World”, “Share the Meal” and “Bring the Moves”.
FIFA has teamed up with @UNESCO🇧🇷 @WFP and @WHO to harness the power of football and spread positive messages globally, with each round of matches at the @FIFAWorldCup having a dedicated campaign to maximize reach and impact.#FootballUnitesTheWorld
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 19, 2022
The FAs of England and Wales were surprised by FIFA’s last-minute initiative on Saturday. Thus, the selections remain with the intention of carrying out the gesture, even with the probable perspective of being fined.
At a press conference, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was asked why the entity did not publicly support rainbow armbands and promote other messages.
“We have clear regulations about armbands,” Infantino replied. “We have and participate in campaigns on various topics, campaigns that are universal. We need to find topics that everyone can adhere to. This is an important element for us.”
In Qatar, same-sex relationships are prohibited. Thus, despite the World Cup organizers defending that “everyone is welcome”, there is no certainty whether laws that criminalize holding hands in public, for example, will be suspended.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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