'One Love' LGBTQ Rights Armband Controversy At World Cup, 7 Things To Know

During the World Cup in Qatar, the soccer captains of seven European teams were scheduled to don rainbow armbands to spread the message of LGBTQ inclusion in a country where homosexuality is against the law. But none of them will know that FIFA, the sport's governing body, is calling them out.

The Football Association, which oversees soccer in England, along with its Welsh counterpart, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium, confirmed in a statement on Monday that they were forced to abandon the One Love campaign gesture they had announced in September due to threats of sporting sanctions from FIFA.

One Love LGBTQ Rights Armband Controversy At World Cup:

- The Dutch Football Association launched the 'One Love' campaign at the start of the 2020 soccer season in an effort to "express their support for the unification of all people" and criticise all forms of prejudice.

- Nine additional countries, including Norway, Sweden, and France, were announced to adopt the campaign in September 2022 in preparation for upcoming events like the Qatar World Cup and the UEFA Nations League in 2023.

- The team captains agreed to don the rainbow armband, which reads 'One Love' and has the number one enclosed in a heart. The rainbow flag is a widely recognised symbol of LGBTQ rights, even though it makes no direct mention of LGBTQ issues or discrimination.

- According to Human Rights Watch, same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar, and LGBTQ people have recently experienced arrests and mistreatment at the hands of the government.

Suggested Reading: Cultural Earthquake: Iranian Women Basketball Team Released Photo With No Hijab

- Given this history, the armband was intended to serve as a form of silent protest akin to taking a knee as a sign of anti-racist solidarity, which England adopted following the Euro 2020 games and will continue to do in its match against Iran on Monday.

- However, the use of political statements on team kits is prohibited, among other FIFA rules and regulations regarding team attire. FIFA's equipment guidelines state in rule 4.3 that, "No item (of playing kit or other clothing or equipment or otherwise) may be worn or used in any controlled area if FIFA considers that it is dangerous, offensive or indecent, includes political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images, or otherwise does not comply in full with the laws of the game."

- As a result, FIFA issued a warning that any team attempting to promote the 'One Love' message would receive an immediate yellow card at the start of the game. As a result, there would be a greater probability that players would be dismissed from a game, which might have an impact on how far they advance in the competition.

Meanwhile, after losing to Italy in a penalty shootout in the final of the 2020 Euro Cup, England, the first team to play who had intended to wear the 'One Love' armband, is one of the favourites to win the 2022 World Cup.