Q: The German Football Association (DFB) wants to challenge the impossibility of wearing the "One Love" armband.

However, Fifa has never communicated a clear decision: it has left the threat of sporting sanctions which were enough to deter the seven selections concerned.

Is legal action possible?

A: "The easiest thing would be for Fifa to agree to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). That's what happened in the case (of the South African middle-distance runner) Caster Semenya: There had been an agreement between her and the International Athletics Federation to submit the regulations on intersex athletes to the CAS If FIFA is sure of its fact, what is the problem?

"If there is no agreement, we must find a decision to attack: in my opinion, the DFB can invoke the refusal of Fifa to decide on its request (to wear the One Love armband, editor's note), especially since it had economic consequences: the German supermarket chain REWE has given up its partnership with the federation.

Q: FIFA regulations require captains to wear official World Cup armbands, and only those.

Basically, what can the DFB say?

A: "She can place the debate on the terrain of freedom of expression, saying that a space must be created so that this freedom is reflected in the players' equipment: the armband area, for example, does not appear visually disproportionate.The idea would be to open a small window of expression that is less controlled by Fifa.

"The other argument is that banning the message + One Love + seems contrary to Article 3 of FIFA's statutes, which requires it to + promote + internationally recognized human rights. When this text was introduced in 2016 , when Gianni Infantino was elected (at the head of the body), it was a way of nipping a certain number of critics in the bud, in particular on the Qatari World Cup.Fifa had not necessarily anticipated that this article 3 would open up a potential for permanent challenge, with regard to human rights, of all its decisions.

Q: What are the challenges for the sports world?

A: "The question is almost philosophical: where does politics begin and end? With the fight against homophobia, are we in the field of politics or depoliticized fundamental rights?

"There is a hypocrisy: Fifa and UEFA have a discourse of inclusion in Europe, which is very close to supporting the LGBT community, but in the Qatari contest, this message is being pushed under the carpet. But if the anti-discrimination message corresponds to the apolitical values ​​of Fifa, why ban this armband? And if it is political, shouldn't players and teams be allowed to express their views in a restricted way? This is a fundamental question. for sport and its organisations."

© 2022 AFP