How does the Lesbian and Gay Association of Germany assess the decision of football teams, especially the German ones, against wearing the "One Love" armband?

Sarah Wagener

volunteer

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It's a bit bizarre that the expression "One Love" of all things becomes a political issue, because the bandage says nothing else.

We wonder what would have happened with a rainbow tie, if the team would even have been disqualified from the tournament.

This armband was just the compromise of an alliance of some federations - with this decision no one looks good in the end.

The situation is an indictment for the whole of football.

Who do you see as being responsible?

The main actor remains FIFA, which spreads false messages and tries to quash all criticism with threats.

The decision seems very arbitrary because it has long been known that the associations wanted to wear the "One Love" bandage.

FIFA didn't react to that at all and then shortly before the end put pressure on the associations.

This shows us that we cannot trust the messages from FIFA.

All in all, we now know under what circumstances the World Cup was awarded and what injustice was done in the run-up to it.

FIFA statements like "Save the planet" are simply wrong, and FIFA hasn't made any changes to human rights in Qatar either.

The Qatar women's national team, for example, de facto no longer exists.

FIFA's armbands don't say anything about women's rights or LGBTIQ+ rights.

The sentences of the World Cup ambassador from Qatar remain in the mind that homosexuality is a mental disorder and women are sweets.

In the end, human rights in particular lost out.

What did you think of the idea behind the campaign?

Homophobia is quite common in football, so a rainbow tie can seem hypocritical.

Our disappointment about the rowing back was great.

After the EM experience, where the German team led the way with a rainbow tie as a sign of diversity and others followed, we hoped to see something similar at the World Cup.

I'm sure that the DFB also went in with this thought.

Then there was a soft compromise with the "One Love" bandage, which is not satisfactory and was rightly criticized.

It would be all the more important now not to back down and buckle.

How strong the symbolism of the armband is can be seen from the reactions.

The question is which images we want to send out into the world.

Do you think football is the right setting for such an event?

Football clearly has a responsibility here.

The World Cup will be held in a country where human rights and freedom of expression do not exist and where women and the LGBTQ+ community must fear.

And then the World Cup takes place in all the splendor of football glory as a big entertainment show.

FIFA is only acting as a PR and marketing machine, but it is responsible for all the crimes and would have to take care of compensation, for example for the migrant workers.

Another thought: In the past, the players from FC Bayern Munich and TSG Hoffenheim have also left the pitch because of insults against Dietmar Hopp.

These are images that you now have in your head.

How do you think it should be handled in the future?

Above all, we wish that the national associations act together and strongly.

FIFA represents the associations, it should actually support them and allow criticism if they themselves are not bringing about any change.

At the moment we would like above all that the voices from football should get louder, that the associations and players who are not currently taking part in the World Cup should make it clear to FIFA what football actually stands for.

The Bundesliga and UEFA should also express themselves more strongly.

It is clear that symbolism is not enough here to restore trust.

In the future, more action must follow, and the associations, but also football as a whole, have a duty to do so.

For example, we need points of contact and contact persons, more public information,

Courses and a strengthening of employees and initiatives.

We have to get people into the associations and give them a voice there.

Football must reflect what is reality at grassroots level.