All Mannschaft players covered their mouths during the official photo before their start against Japan. an apparent protest at threats of sporting sanctions from Fifa to prevent the wearing of the ‘One Love’ armband in Qatar.
The gesture is highly symbolic. Germany’s players put their hands over their mouths in the team photo ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan on Monday, an apparent protest at threats of sporting sanctions from Fifa to prevent the wearing of the ‘One Love’ armband in Qatar.
The seven European federations, including Germany, which had planned to wear a colored “One Love” armband against discrimination, gave up on Monday in the face of the threat of “sporting penalties” by Fifa, which did not specify them. This threat has been widely criticized in Germany where many voices have been raised calling on Mannschaft players to defy it.
More information to come.