Most of UEFA’s World Cup sides want to use captain’s armbands that support a campaign against discrimination, but FIFA may stand in the way.
Eight European teams — Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Wales — have filed a request with FIFA, asking for permission to use “OneLove” armbands that include a rainbow heart logo. According to England’s Football Association, Norway and Sweden are also backing the movement and will wear the armbands in future matches.
The federations behind each of those teams released statements to that effect on Wednesday, with the Football Association’s official press release saying that all eight countries will wear the armbands in Qatar.
“I am honoured to join my fellow national team captains in supporting the important OneLove campaign. As captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination,” said Harry Kane. “This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society. Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching.”
“It’s wonderful to see the nations unite to support the OneLove campaign as we stand together against all forms of discrimination,” added Wales captain Gareth Bale in a statement from the Welsh FA. “We know the world will be watching us and this campaign emphasizes that everybody in football has at least one thing in common; their love for the game. By working together we can send a unified message that we are against any form of exclusion and discrimination.”
The OneLove campaign is an initiative that was started in a collaboration between the Dutch government, the Dutch soccer federation (KNVB), the top two professional divisions in Dutch men’s soccer, and the women’s top flight.
Granit Xhaka wird in den Spielen der Nations League und in den WM-Partien eine symbolträchtige Captainbinde tragen
(🇫🇷/🇮🇹 ⬇️)👉 https://t.co/AeHvUVvHlV#natimiteuch #lanatiavecvous #lanaticonvoi #OneLove pic.twitter.com/gUZl136phl
— 🇨🇭 Nati (@nati_sfv_asf) September 21, 2022
The countries supporting OneLove will also wear the armbands during their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.
The request is the latest issue that FIFA will have to sort out between themselves and Qatar, who will host the tournament in November and December. FIFA rules bar teams from using specialized armband designs, instead mandating for captain’s armbands to be supplied by the world governing body itself.
However, the countries involved — with support from UEFA, who has approved of the armbands for Nations League matches — want to bring their stance to the World Cup, which will be hosted in a country where homosexual acts have been outlawed, and where migrant worker abuse has been a subject of intense worldwide scrutiny.
The armbands are not the only visible action planned by World Cup participants. Poland captain Robert Lewandowski said that he will wear an armband in the colors of the Ukrainian flag that was gifted to him by former Ukraine striker and head coach Andriy Shevchenko.
The FA has said it will invite migrant workers to their training base during the World Cup to spend time with England players. Denmark plans to wear warm-up shirts that promote human rights, while the U.S. men’s national team says it has educated players on social issues pertaining to Qatar and will allow them to take the lead on the team’s actions on that front.
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