World Cup 2022: Fifa draws its own armbands against the “One Love” initiative

Europe 1 with AFP 5 p.m., November 19, 2022

Faced with the desire of several teams of the 2022 World Cup to wear an armband in favor of LGBTQ + inclusion, Fifa reacted on Saturday by drawing its own, carrying mobilizing messages, trying to short-circuit the initiative carried in particular by the 'Germany.

The Mannschaft and the Danish selection, however, repeated on Saturday that their captains, Manuel Neuer and Simon Kjaer, would wear the "One Love" armband they had planned to wear, in favor of inclusion and against discrimination, and not those of FIFA.

The German federation even said it was ready to assume possible fines.

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Various suggested slogans

Several slogans will appear on the captain's armbands offered by Fifa to the 32 selections, such as "Save the planet", "Education for all" or "No to discrimination".

For the moment, of the eight selection captains behind the "One Love" initiative, only Frenchman Hugo Lloris has announced that he is giving up wearing this armband.

Englishman Harry Kane will be the first to wear it on a lawn at the World Cup on Monday.

"The most popular sport on the planet can also contribute to changing our societies in the right direction, by relaying positive messages", wrote the international federation in a press release, about its initiative, specifying that the captains of the teams engaged will be able to broadcast the message of their choice among those proposed by Fifa.

In this press release, the Zurich-based organization does not, however, specify its position vis-à-vis the colored "One Love" armbands.

Football authorities have historically opposed political messages in stadiums.

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The Danish captain will wear the "One Love" armband

Contacted to find out whether captains who wear the "One Love" armband rather than those proposed by Fifa would face sanctions, Fifa was not immediately available for comment.

"Our captain (Simon Kjaer) will wear the 'One Love' armband. I don't know what the consequences will be, we'll see," said Danish attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen.

Since its appointment to organize the event in 2010, Qatar has been the target of strong criticism, which has intensified as the event approaches, in particular on human rights, in particular those of LGBTQ+ people.

Homosexuality and sex outside marriage are criminalized in Qatar.