Milan and Denmark defender Simon Kjaer blasted FIFA for the ‘ridiculous’ situation barring them from wearing a One Love armband in favour of LGBTQI+ rights in the Qatar World Cup, but explains why he couldn’t defy the order.
The issue has dominated coverage of the tournament, where homosexuality is still illegal, as FIFA waited until the last minute to warn nations that they would face more than a mere fine for wearing the personalised armbands.
Instead, the captains would receive a yellow card at the starting whistle for having the ‘illicit’ piece of clothing in an official FIFA occasion.
“People say I should’ve risked it and worn it anyway, but that’s easy to say,” explained Kjaer after the opening 0-0 draw with Tunisia.
“If I get booked after five minutes, I leave my team down to 10 men immediately. I cannot put my team at a disadvantage like that.”
Even if the captains did manage to avoid a second yellow card during the match, they would still get banned for every two bookings, forced to miss much of the tournament.
“It is ridiculous that FIFA puts us in this situation. Banning any connection with the message at all is just completely against where I come from, how I grew up and the values I hold. It just doesn’t make sense.”
There are reports today that the German federation is taking legal action to sue FIFA for the ban, with nations including England and the Netherlands hoping to join in.
“I think there are many countries that are on the same page and they should join forces,” continued Kjaer.
“Then I believe change could be possible. Someone needs to do something about this.”
The ban on any symbolism in favour of LGBTQI+ rights is extending to colours in Belgium’s warm-up kit and even hats brought in by fans with a rainbow.
Kjaer also confirmed that Denmark had wanted to warm up in a shirt with a message about human rights, but again FIFA clamped down.
This is a global event. Countries vie for the opportunity to host, welcome the world, and provide hospitality. FIFA is to blame for all of this. It was clearly an incongruent scenario at the outset (strict conservative laws vs global progressive movements). The WC shouldn’t be in Qatar *or* the details of managing the incongruency between welcoming so many other countries and cultures vs the laws of the host nation should have all been detailed out before the candidacy of host nation was awarded.
@Bilal and Dan1
If you are willing to defend laws that criminalise people for being themselves, and are using footballers lack of conviction to defend that position, then you have a horrible deficit of morality and basic reason.
This isn’t politics vs football, this is about common decency and inclusion – which surely are a fundamental part of football as well as society.
Stop this hypocritical criticism, sounds like the BBC in here. Never a word of criticism of the Middle Eastern owners of PSG, Newcastle, or Man City.
@Forzalex. Were you on your knee when you wrote that wearing a 🌈 t-shirt? I have my own mind and morals, of which you know NOTHING. Therefore your moral grandstanding against me is irrelevant and entirely out of place and context.
Look at Bilal going out of his way to prove that letting Qatar host the world cup was a terrible decision.
Y’all wanna host the women’s world cup next? Girls in shorts? In the stadiums?
Have a beer and chill out Billy-boy. Of you think football and politics can be separateez you don’t deserve to watch it…
@Dan1
Who cares how I protest? What difference does it make to the actual issues at hand.
Feel free to share your moral structure that leads to the exclusion of people from society and prohibits their free choice.
I’m sure it is well considered and not at all bigoted, and doesn’t happen to put you and people who think and act like you at the top of the moral and social hierarchy.
@Peter,
I don’t understand. There is almost universal criticism of those clubs for their part in marketing misogynistic, homophobic autocracies.
PSG used to be one of my favourite clubs, but I’d support Inter against them now.
Forza Inter
@Recoba…I like your idea, now that’s a solution.
@Recoba
I don’t think you’ve quite understood the spirit of a “World” cup.
What you going to suggest next Recoba, separate World Cups for black and white people, so the racists won’t be offended?
It’s absolutely stunning how these people defend hate defend bigotry by using religion as an excuse that has always been a poor excuse. Hate is hate they have no right to preach about respect never respect bigotry racism and homophobia NEVER zero tolerance zero acceptance of such beliefs because they are wrong.