Denmark, the Netherlands and England turn to Fifa threats
– We cannot put the players in a position where they are punished sportingly, such as in the form of yellow or red cards. We are very frustrated by Fifa’s decision, which is something we have never done before.
– We wrote to Fifa in September informing them of our desire to use the “OneLove” bandages to support active inclusion in football, and never received a reply. Both the players and the coaches are disappointed.
That’s the verdict in a joint statement from seven World Cup nations, published by the English Football Association (FA) on Monday morning.
England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Wales, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland had all planned to use a rainbow colored captain’s armband with the text “OneLove” during the World Cup in Qatar.
The host country where homosexuality is prohibited and, according to Amnesty, can be punished with seven years in prison.
But after threats of sporting punishment from the International Football Association (FIFA), everyone has turned their backs.
– It is a demonstration of power, says NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt about the outcome in the captain’s tie case.
– This is taken straight from the textbook for how authoritarian regimes crush opposition. And a further politicization of the WC. How can they be about respecting the culture of the organizers when they themselves show no respect for support for universal human rights? he asked
England, who took the initiative for the campaign, were in meetings with Fifa on Monday. A little while after these meetings, they decided to drop the captain’s armband. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said earlier on Monday that they would be “happy” to pay a fine for using the bandage. But if they wanted to be punished in a sporting way, they had to reconsider. The confirmations of the changed plans then came in turn:
First the Netherlands, then Denmark, then England.
– A power play
Saltvedt thinks it’s a shame that the teams are not willing to take the yellow card to mark how important matters are. At the same time, he understands that the sporting uncertainty becomes so great that others have to make the decision.
In the World Cup, you must sit out a match if you receive a yellow card in two different matches.
– Fifa knows that well. They are the ones who set that rule as well. They hit the opponents where they are weakest. We must call it a power play, says Saltvedt.
In the Fifa regulations, rule 4.3 under equipment regulations, it says:
“No item (suit or other equipment) shall be used in a playing area if Fifa considers it dangerous, offensive or indecent, including political, religious or personal slogans, statements or the like which are not entirely in line with the guidelines of the game”.
– Shameful
In the days leading up to the start of the controversial championship, the International Football Association (Fifa) launched its own campaign with its own captain’s armbands, urging all World Cup nations to use them on match day.
They also warned that going against these calls would result in punishment.
Leader of the organization FRI (the association for gender and sexuality diversity), Inge Alexander Gjestvang, calls Fifa’s threats shameful.
– We at FRI are very concerned about the situation of migrant workers, women and the queer population in Qatar, and not least how human rights are being safeguarded in general. The fact that performers and the audience are punished for putting the spotlight on problematic things is both embarrassing and shameful, he says to NRK, and adds:
– You use sport as a superficial and fine glaze, but underneath there is a rotten cake that comes clearly into view as soon as you scratch the surface a little.
– Don’t see the problem
From before, Denmark’s national team coach Kasper Hjulmand has announced that he does not want to pressure his captain Simon Kjær to start the World Cup with a yellow card. The Danes, like the other nations mentioned, have planned to use the rainbow captain’s armband.
– This cannot be up to the players. Imagine entering the pitch with a clear yellow card from the start. It doesn’t work, says Hjulmand, who is confused by Fifa’s clear calls to drop the “OneLove” bandages.
– This is not something new we have come up with for this occasion. It’s something we’ve done before. To be perfectly honest, I don’t see the problem. This is something I put a big question mark on.