The FIFA won the battle of the One Love bracelets. She did it by force, with threats: yellow for whoever uses it. But she cannot silence the voices and Germany stands tall with the gestures against discrimination in Qatar.
The German team debuted in Qatar 2022 and more than the victory over Japan, the photo of the day was given by its starting eleven when posing for the press. All the players covered their mouths, perhaps a gesture not to silence the critics.
The photo has gone viral on social media. The reason is the one explained in the first paragraph. European countries such as Germany, Denmark, England, Belgium, Wales, France and Switzerland, sought a way to make their message against discrimination in Qatar notice, but FIFA prohibited it.
They thought to pay the fine – even captains like Neuer, Van Dij and Harry Kane thought to do it ‘out of pocket’, but the soccer World Cup went one step further and reported that captains who wear the One Love bracelet, the one in the colors LGTB, they would be reprimanded. Two yellows and they lost a game. For this reason, those selected have sought their way of making their voice heard.
England knelt before kicking off their match against Iran and Kane wearing a ‘No Discrimination’ armband, Germany posed with their hands over their mouths and their prime minister is in the stands wearing the aforementioned armband. She is sitting next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, no less.
German minister Nancy Faeser has the OneLove????️???? armband on as she sits next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. #GER | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/sf5FWmVeWj
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 23, 2022
“We wanted to wear our captain’s armband to defend the values we have in the Germany team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nationals, we wanted our voice to be heard”, says the same German team on their social networks.
So much is the ‘drama’ on the part of FIFA that a peculiar image was experienced in the match in Germany. The match’s assistant referee approached Manuel Neuer to verify if the bracelet he was wearing carried the One Love message. “No discrimination” was what was read on his captain’s tape.
“This was not a political statement. Human Rights are not negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it’s still not the case. That is why this message is so important to us. Denying us the bracelet is the same as denying us a voice. We maintain our position, “they finished explaining.
Qatar 2022, a soccer World Cup where the messages for Human Rights are a great goal that is scored and the whole world celebrates it.
It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us.
Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position. pic.twitter.com/tiQKuE4XV7
—Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 23, 2022
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Source: Elcomercio
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.