2023-07-19 10:47:37
Many of them defended their right to wear this armband, the banner of their commitment against racism, homophobia, sexism or other forms of discrimination. For months, the players of the women’s selections qualified for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20 – August 20) occupied the negotiating table at the end of which was FIFA, which finally banned them from playing. wearing the One Love headband.
“As players, especially in women’s football, we constantly make clear statements about the society we want to live in and the positive impact we can have on the world,” said Leah Williamson, captain of the club. England last February. Wearing the One Love armband then meant allying with the initiative of the Netherlands Federation, which had created it in 2020. “Like most selections, my teammates expressed their desire to wear it”, reacted Sam Kerr, captain of the Australian team, after learning of the armband ban.
“Geopolitics has taken over”
The men were also deprived of One Love for the World Cup in Qatar. In 2022, only a few weeks before the start of the competition, the first body of world football decided to ban its port, brandishing the threat of a yellow card in the event of a deviation. An effective sporting sanction, according to Annie Fortems, decorated with the Legion of Honor in 2016 for her fight for women’s rights, against discrimination and exclusion. “The financial sanctions, everyone was ready to pay them, she analyzes. It was with the cards that FIFA got everyone’s attention. »
Because in Qatar, a country singled out for its relationship to human rights and hostile to homosexuality, carrying a political message was a risk for the International Federation, whose interests go beyond the athlete. “Geopolitics has taken over,” laments the creator and former player of the women’s section of the Juvisy club. I really think Gianni Infantino is against discrimination, but what’s going on here is realpolitik. »
Why then prevent players from showing their support for communities that are victims of discrimination in countries like Australia and New Zealand that share these values? “FIFA simply did not want to back down,” observes Annie Fortems. If they give in to One Love, they somehow admit that the decision to ban it in Qatar was purely political, even religious. They want to save face. »
“FIFA has a duty of reparation”
The negotiations finally led to a compromise: the “Unite” armbands, because there will be eight of them, from FIFA’s “Football Unites the World” campaign. They each represent a cause to be fought: inclusion, indigenous peoples, gender equality, peace, education for all, the fight against famine, against violence against women, and a universal banner, in partnership with the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO).
A solution that does not necessarily please everyone. “The Federation tries to drown the fish by offering all these different armbands, but they are useless. Football conveys images of incredible sexist, racist and homophobic violence, it gives them incredible visibility, ”choked Annie Fortems. “FIFA has a duty of reparation for all this violence, but the Unite headbands do not address any of these issues. »
“It’s still a good sign”
Yoann Lemaire, president of the Foot Ensemble association, which collaborates with the LFP and the FFF in the fight against homophobia, is more nuanced. “In Qatar, we took ten steps backwards. FIFA can sometimes show a pitiful image of football, but the fact that there are armbands of inclusion remains a good sign, it takes an example from the big authorities. »
Gianni Infantino, the president of the International Federation, was pleased with the outcome of the negotiations at the beginning of July. “After very open discussions with stakeholders, including member associations and players, we have decided to promote several social causes during the 64 matches of the Women’s World Cup,” he said after the decision was made public. To which the captains will comply, satisfied or not, from July 20 to August 20.
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