European teams say won’t wear ‘OneLove’ World Cup armband

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 24, 2022, England’s forward Harry Kane wearing a rainbow armband. reacts after losing the UEFA Nations League’s League A Group 3 match between Italy and England, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. – England, Germany and five other European teams at the World Cup on Monday, November 21, abandoned plans to wear a rainbow-themed armband in support of LGBTQ rights, citing the threat of disciplinary action from FIFA. The “OneLove” armband due to be warn by the likes of England captain Harry Kane and Germany counterpart Manuel Neuer is designed as part of a campaign to promote inclusivity. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

England, Germany, and five other European teams at the World Cup on Monday abandoned plans to wear a rainbow-themed armband in support of LGBTQ rights, citing the threat of disciplinary action from FIFA.

“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play,” the seven teams said in a joint statement.

Under FIFA rules, players wearing kit that is not authorised by football’s world governing body could be shown a yellow card.

If that player was then shown a second yellow card, they would be sent off.

The “OneLove” armband due to be worn by the likes of England captain Harry Kane and Germany counterpart Manuel Neuer is designed as part of a campaign to promote inclusivity.

The armbands had widely been viewed as a symbolic protest against laws in the World Cup host nation Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.

“As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA