DFB speaks of “threats” and “censorship”
“Feels a lot like censorship” – Bierhoff sharply criticizes Fifa
After the threat of sporting sanctions, the DFB decided not to wear the “One Love” bandage. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFB Director Oliver Bierhoff express unusually clear criticism of Fifa’s actions.
The DFB comments on the Fifa ban on the “One Love” bandage in clear words. President Bernd Neuendorf gives insights into the talks and calls them strange. He and Oliver Bierhoff defend themselves against the accusation that they buckled.
AIn view of the vehemence and clarity with which Bernd Neuendorf and Oliver Bierhoff spoke at the hastily arranged media meeting on Monday afternoon, the only question that remained open was why the verbal condemnation of Fifa’s actions ultimately remained.
The top of the German Football Association criticized the ban on Manuel Neuer’s “One Love” captain’s armband in an unusually sharp manner. “From my point of view, it is a demonstration of power by Fifa,” said DFB President Neuendorf in 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 felt “strongly like censorship”.
Fifa had previously banned the wearing of the multicolored and symbolic captain’s armband of several European nations and threatened the associations with sporting sanctions. “Fifa has banned a statement on diversity and human rights. These are values to which they are committed in their own statutes,” said Neuendorf. “We don’t want the conflict, which we undoubtedly have, to be played out on the backs of the players. We stand by our values.”
The duo could not answer the question of what exactly would have happened if the captains had worn the armband anyway. “We don’t know exactly what threats would have been made. It was generally held that there could be sporting sanctions. That’s also strange,” reported Neuendorf, who was just as little able to say what exactly was disturbing the world association on the bandage: “Fifa simply stoically pointed out the regulations that it sets itself.”
The Europeans did not agree
However, what apparently surprised the DFB most was the timing, especially since the bandage had been announced. “But we didn’t get any response from Fifa until shortly before the tournament. On the contrary: We wore the bandage to the end. The game in Oman was also a Fifa game,” says Neuendorf: “While the tournament started to start such a debate, we find it very remarkable.”
However, he does not believe that the DFB should face the accusation that “we caved in,” said Neuendorf, pointing out that the DFB FIFA President Gianni Infantino had not promised a vote for his presidential elections next March. “We were clear with our non-nomination. The signals are already understood. That was a clear signal to Fifa that we are not prepared to support certain things that come from Fifa.”
Apparently there was no agreement among the seven European national associations on how to deal with the threats. “It’s true that we’re not going it alone here,” Bierhoff indicated, indicating a lack of unity.
The DFB duo left it open how things will continue: “I have no interest in putting a lasting strain on the relationship with Fifa. But I will always reserve the right to express myself critically,” said Neuendorf, who hinted at vague consequences: “This is behavior from Fifa that we cannot tolerate at all.” What could have been made clear on Wednesday. With the wearing of the bandage.
