Seven European national soccer teams announced their captains won’t wear rainbow armbands to promote LGBTQ rights at the 2022 World Cup because they feared on-field punishments by Qatari tournament organizers.
The captain's armband, similar to this one, shown during a September game between Germany and Hungary. European national teams have told their captains not to wear it during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.The captain's armband, similar to this one, shown during a September game between Germany and Hungary. European national teams have told their captains not to wear it during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.DOHA, Qatar — A World Cup already filled with controversy added a bit more on Monday.
Seven European national soccer teams - including England, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Wales - announced their team captains would not wear armbands promoting diversity because they feared on-field punishments by tournament organizers during the 2022 World Cup. The teams planned for their captains to wear rainbow armbands with the words"OneLove" to promote LGBTQ rights. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
Now, the European countries have decided against it, saying FIFA, soccer's international governing body, threatened the captains with yellow cards. That increases the risk of being ejected from a match or prevented playing in a later game if they accumulate a second yellow card in the opening group stage.