Manuel Neuer Harry Kane Bernd Neuendorf Qatar Germany Japan soccer Manuel Neuer Harry Kane Bernd Neuendorf Qatar Germany Japan

Armband ban 'unprecedented' from FIFA, says German football boss

news24.com

German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf said on Monday that FIFA's threats of on-field sanctions for wearing the 'One Love' armband were "an unprecedented event in World Cup history".Neuendorf confirmed an earlier announcement that Germany captain Manuel Neuer would not wear the rainbow-themed armband, which supports LGBTQ rights, at the tournament.FIFA had "threatened on-field sanctions", believed to be yellow or red cards, against players who wore them on the pitch."We will not place the weight of FIFA's confrontation on the back of Manuel Neuer," Neuendorf said, telling reporters the DFB "was very frustrated with FIFA's decision"."We don't want to expose our captain to such a risk (that) he would receive a sporting sanction," he said from the team's training ground at Al Shamal, in northern Qatar."We were willing to pay the fines that are normally imposed for violations and we strongly advocated wearing the armband."Neuendorf said the decision to threaten on-field sanctions was "a show of force from FIFA".While FIFA has previously discouraged teams from making "political statements", the organisation's statutes are unclear on whether these could lead to on-pitch consequences.The director of the German team, former striker Oliver Bierhoff, said FIFA "escalated" the situation, with Neuer and the German team "going to bed last night believing he would be wearing the armband"."Manu is in a difficult situation -- we all are.

Manu is disappointed, as he said in the press conference he would wear the armband, along other European team captains like (England's) Harry Kane."Germany play their Group E opener against Japan on Wednesday.

Related News
DOHA : The German Football Association (DFB) will next week launch a round of talks to identify the reasons for their second consecutive World Cup flop, after the team were eliminated in the group stage again on Thursday night.
AL KHOR, Qatar : Germany's second successive group stage exit despite their 4-2 victory over Costa Rica on Thursday appears shocking for a country with such a history of World Cup success - but it shouldn't have been.
AL KHOR, Qatar : Germany, who need a win to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the World Cup, fielded a more attacking formation with winger Leroy Sane slipping in with fullback Thilo Kehrer for their last Group E match against Costa Rica on Thursday.

Latest News

Change privacy settings
This page might use cookies if your analytics vendor requires them.