[ad_1]
An AO member was detained by stadium security in Qatar for wearing a rainbow armband at the FIFA World Cup 2022. (Credit: Twitter)
Eight Western European federations considered making their national captains wear a “One Love” armband at the WC in Qatar, but eventually gave in, citing threats from FIFA.
France coach Didier Deschamps told a French National Assembly committee on Thursday that national teams had been “abandoned” over the issue of rainbow armbands at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.
There was discussion before the competition over wearing “One Love” armbands as a protest because homosexual activity is illegal in Qatar, but the organisers and world football’s governing body FIFA warned players not to.
Another AO member was detained by stadium security for wearing a rainbow armband. He has since been allowed in.This is disgraceful.
The conversation about fans at this World Cup has not been honest. Instances like this are why AO is not holding standalone events in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/mI8wlvlbvO
— AO (@AmericanOutlaws) November 29, 2022
“We were abandoned before this World Cup because the responsibility belongs to the authorities, and so it became the free decision of each and every individual,” Deschamps told a committee looking at “operational failures within sports federations”.
“The decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar was taken before I was coach,” Deschamps said.
ICC World Cup: Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
Eight Western European federations considered making their national captains wear a “One Love” armband, but eventually gave in, citing threats from FIFA.
The FA have lit the Wembley arch in rainbow colours to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community after they decided England captain Harry Kane would not wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/LyJH2KMDiA— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 25, 2022
“In the weeks leading up to (the World Cup), non-sporting issues came up and we asked the players, with different sensitivities depending on their country and culture, to take a stand,” he added.
“We’re bound by FIFA’s decisions,” he said. “You have to follow FIFA’s recommendations.”
“If there had been a collective and general action, it would have been better,” he said. “We already had enough to worry about.”
READ: Bayern Munich’s Matthijs De Ligt Ruled Out With Knee Injury
For their official photo before their first match against Japan on November 23, German players held their hands over their mouths to suggest they had been gagged.
Germany players placed their hands over their mouths for a team photo at the Qatar World Cup in protest over FIFA’s threat of sanctions over the OneLove armband. pic.twitter.com/NDu1b13W1R— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 23, 2022
The gesture was criticised in Qatar and other non-Western countries for mixing sport and politics.
The president of the French Football Federation at the time, Noel Le Graet, expressed his opposition to the “One Love” armband.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
[ad_2]
Source link
