Harry Kane will not wear a ‘OneLove’ armband for England’s World Cup opener against Iran on Monday after FIFA threatened players could be booked, the FA has confirmed.
The captains of England, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Wales and the Netherlands planned to wear the armband at the World Cup in Qatar.
The OneLove armband was aimed to promote LGBT+ rights and send a strong stance against discrimination, with homosexuality illegal in a country like Qatar.
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However, World Cup organisers FIFA issued a stern warning that players who wear the OneLove armband could receive a yellow card from referees.
England captain Kane could have missed England’s World Cup clash against Wales if he wore the armband and had been booked during the matches against Iran and USA.
According to The Times’ Henry Winter, England and the six other footballing associations have now made a dramatic U-turn on the OneLove armband.
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“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play,” the FA said in a statement on Monday.
“As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
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“However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.
“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented -- we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed -- they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
England kick off their opening Group B clash against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
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READ MORE:
- How many yellow cards are needed before a ban in World Cup 2022?
- England vs Iran UK start time: TV channel and how to watch
Speaking ahead of the FA’s U-turn, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher insisted that Kane should wear the OneLove armband and England should stand up against FIFA’s warning.
“Harry Kane has to wear it,” he told Sky Sports.
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“England have made a big noise about the fact that he is going to wear this, that this is their protest to the World Cup being in Qatar, human rights and everything that goes on in the country that people have criticised.
“This is England’s way of showing that they don’t agree with everything that’s going on in the country.
“They can’t pull out now. The fact that Harry Kane may get a yellow card only strengthens the campaign.
“For England to pull out because of a yellow card for Kane, I think would be weak, so I think it should make them more determined.”
Topics: England, Harry Kane, Football World Cup
Adnan Riaz