World Cup: One Love headband and human rights t-shirts, very political World Cup in Denmark.

Shame. FIFA ordered Denmark to ditch their human rights training jersey and Rasmus Christensen didn’t even move seven times before criticizing the decision, which was announced a week earlier. “Obviously it’s FIFA rules,” the Danish Leeds United The body, led by Gianni Infantino, refuses to see political messages in the context of its competitions and has therefore deemed the slogan “Human rights for all” inappropriate.

Last Monday, coach Kasper Hjulmand planned to “focus on football”. It is obvious that the semi-finalists of the past Euro are able to develop both in sports and in the political arena. Last example this Saturday: “Our captain (Simon Kjaer) will be wearing the One Love armband. I don’t know what the consequences will be, we’ll see,” Christian Eriksen said at a press conference.

“We are not silent”

This reaction is contrary to the intent of FIFA, which itself planned to derail the One Love initiative. The leadership of world football has released its own armbands. “In this way, each game day will be accompanied by a special campaign,” the organization said in a statement. Ecology, child protection, anti-discrimination and every time an armband adapted to these themes.

But that’s why the Danish Federation (DBU) decided to stay true to “One Love”. “That has always been our intention. We have already done this in our two games with Croatia and France in the League of Nations. After negotiations with other federations, including England, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, we have decided to wear this armband,” confirmed Peter Moller. When asked about possible sanctions, the DBU director used his allies as a shield. “Netherlands, England and Wales are ahead of us, so we’ll see what happens. »

Denmark’s commitment does not stop there. “There are different ways to do things. Yes, I could wear a T-shirt, but there is also behind-the-scenes work that you don’t see. We are not silent, said coach Kasper Hulmand. The emergence of “more young, more progressive and more diverse people in the governing bodies of football and sport in general” will make a difference, he said.

Faded logo and black jersey

The government and the royal family of Denmark will not send official representatives to the opening ceremony of the World Cup. The families of the players will also stay at home. “We don’t want Qatar to profit” from the visits, a federation spokesman said.

Finally, if Scandinavians are forced to leave their human rights uniforms in the locker room, equipment supplier Hummel has managed to erase their logos from Danish jerseys and has released a third jersey, all black. “We don’t want to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of lives,” the brand said.

During Euro 2021, the Danish Dynamite distinguished themselves by the proposed game and unexpected results. A year and a half later, they shine with their commitment, but above all motivated by football. See you next Tuesday against Tunisia before facing the Blues on Saturday. At the end of September, Yulmand’s wards beat the French team (2:0). Kjaer already wore a bandage with the words “One love” on his bicep.