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At the opening of the Germany-Japan match, Wednesday, November 23 in Doha, the players of the Nationalmannschaft covered their mouths before the traditional pre-match photo. A gesture to protest against Fifa which had threatened sanctions for the selections which would play in Qatar with the One Love armband.
Faced with threats of “sporting sanctions” brandished by the International Football Federation (Fifa), the seven European teams* who had planned to wear a brassard « One Love »as a sign of inclusion and diversity and against discrimination, gave up at the start of the week. They intended to wear this armband to their captains while Qatar, host country of the 2022 World Cup, is the subject of criticism vis-à-vis human rights and the treatment of LGBTQ+ people and migrant workers.
But the players of the German team did not intend to remain without reaction for their entry into competition against Japan on Wednesday. Manuel Neuer, the captain and goalkeeper of the Nationalmannschaft (the national team), did not have a “One Love” armband, but he and his teammates found a way to respond to Fifa. When posing for the pre-match photo, the eleven Germans covered their mouths with one hand. Under the eyes of FIFA President Gianni Infantinopresent in the Khalifa International Stadium.
With our captain’s armband, we wanted to set an example for values that we live in the national team: diversity and mutual respect. Be loud together with other nations. This is not about a political message: human rights are non-negotiable. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/v9ngfv0ShW
— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) November 23, 2022
« Human rights are not negotiable »
In the aftermath, on Twitter and other social networks, the German Football Federation published a scathing press release: With our captain’s armband, we wanted to show the values that we live within the national team: Diversity and mutual respect. Make noise together with other nations. »
« This is not a political message: human rights are non-negotiable. It should be obvious. Unfortunately, this is still not the case. This is why this message is so important to us. Forbidding us to wear the blindfold is forbidding us to speak. Our position is clear. »
In the stands, the Minister of the Interior in charge of Sports, Nancy Faeser, also took a stand. Sitting alongside Gianni Infantino, she removed her jacket, revealing the famous “One Love” armband on her arm, which Fifa did not want to see on the field.
German politician Nancy Faeser sat next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino wearing a OneLove armband. ????
She concealed it under a red jacket and then took it off.???? pic.twitter.com/1XOFa9Lpd0
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) November 23, 2022
In wanting to ban its distribution, Fifa has shed a little more light on the “One Love” armband, the message it carries and the criticisms it formulates.
► To read also: A Qatari ambassador for the 2022 World Cup describes homosexuality as “mental damage”, Berlin condemns