“This is another low blow”
The DFB received a “clear threat” from FIFA
11/22/2022 10:49 am
FIFA is issuing “clear threats in our direction,” says DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. You have to “take it very seriously”. And that’s why the team will not wear the “One Love” captain’s armband at the World Cup in Qatar. FIFA’s approach is perfidious. The world’s largest trade association is angry. Very angry.
The top of the German Football Association has sharply criticized the FIFA ban on Manuel Neuer’s “One Love” captain’s armband. “In my view, this is a demonstration of power by FIFA,” said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf at the team headquarters in northern Qatar. “From our point of view, this is more than frustrating and also an unprecedented event in the history of the World Cup.” DFB managing director Oliver Bierhoff said it “feels a lot like censorship”.
FIFA had previously banned several European nations from wearing the multicolored and symbolic captain’s armband and threatened the associations with sporting sanctions. “FIFA has forbidden a statement on diversity and human rights. These are values that they are committed to in their own statutes,” said Neuendorf. “We don’t want the conflict, which we undoubtedly have, to be carried out on the backs of the players.” You could “take our bandages, but our values will remain the same,” Bierhoff said.
“Clear threat in our direction”
The DFB and several other associations had already submitted to FIFA in September that they wanted to wear the “One Love” bandage at the World Cup as a sign against homophobia, anti-Semitism, racism and for human and women’s rights. But until the very end, no signal was received from FIFA as to how they intend to proceed in this matter. Not even during the test match in Oman a few days ago. The decision was only announced on the night before the first matchday, when captain Harry Kane wanted to lead the English national team onto the field against Iran with the discussed arm bandage. Obviously for tactical reasons. “It’s really sad that it happened like that,” Bierhoff said.
FIFA kept a low profile about the sanctions to be feared. “We have no concrete indications of what the sanctions could look like, which is also very strange,” said Neuendorf. But there was “a clear threat in our direction” that we have to take very seriously. The association had previously stated in a statement that it was not afraid of financial sanctions, as is usual in such cases. But now that sporting consequences are apparently also threatening, the protest has been buried again in coordination with the “European partners”, who would also have worn the “One Love” bandage. “Today is another low blow for us,” announced Neuendorf, referring to FIFA.
He doesn’t think the DFB should face the accusation “that we caved in,” said Neuendorf, pointing out that the DFB had not promised FIFA President Gianni Infantino a vote for his presidential elections next March. “It was a clear signal to FIFA that we are not prepared to support certain things coming from FIFA.” Bierhoff reported that the ban was also frustrating for the players. “It’s also a difficult situation for Manuel,” said the ex-professional.
Iran makes a statement
In the debate about the “One Love” captain’s armband at the World Cup in Qatar, Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich clearly positioned himself against the world football association. “I’m looking for the rule basis for Fifa’s decision to sanction wearing the orienteering bandage with yellow. I can’t find it,” wrote the 43-year-old from Hamburg on Twitter. “Everyone is instrumentalized. Sad and unbelievable! Here too only indirectly, without a basis for yellow, oh dear!”
There was a strong social signal at the game between England and Iran even without the “One Love” armband: the players of the Iranian national team did not sing the national anthem. Iranian activists see it as a gesture of support for the nationwide protests in the country. They had hoped for a statement of solidarity from the players before the game. The Iranian state broadcaster interrupted the live broadcast at the anthem.
The players could now face consequences. There had been speculation in Iran that they might be banned if they remained silent at the anthem. Iranian captain Ehsan Hajsafi on Sunday expressed his condolences to the grieving families of the victims in Iran. The team has to accept that the conditions in the country are not good and the people are not happy. The players are aware of that. According to estimates by human rights activists, at least 360 people have been killed in the nationwide protests in Iran so far.
