England, Wales, and five other European nations believed that if their captains ignored Fifa’s prohibition on the pro-diversity OneLove armband during the World Cup, they would face “infinite culpability” and sanctions.
Although the English Football Association was criticized for backing down in response to Fifa’s pressure, its options were constrained due to fears that Harry Kane’s sports sanctions would have been more severe than an automatic card if he had worn the captain’s armband against Iran. There were also concerns that Gareth Southgate’s team could not have entered the pitch.
Those close to the process were left with the sense that “Fifa could do anything” to any captain who wore the armband in Qatar after discussions with international football’s governing body. The FA’s concerns were mirrored by the other six countries involved in the OneLove campaign.
The German federation referred to Fifa’s actions as “severe blackmail,” and sources stated that it was unclear whether the captains would only receive a warning.
England, Wales, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark were concerned that their captains might be disqualified. It was unclear if suspensions would be confined to a single match.
None of the nations were willing to place their athletes in such a predicament. A source stated that if the captains had disregarded Fifa’s warnings, they would have exposed themselves to “infinite liability.”
Separately, the FA was concerned that if Kane had attempted to leave the dressing room with the armband, England’s match against Iran would not have begun. The FA is investigating whether it is legally viable to fight the threat of sports fines, and the seven associations are furious with Fifa’s behavior.
The notion that Kane could have created an iconic moment by entering the field while wearing the captain’s armband and receiving an instant yellow card is misguided. The yellow card would have been displayed in the locker area, eliminating any possible connotation.
Before Friday’s game against the United States, Southgate was asked about the possibility of fines for Kane. England’s head coach said, “I don’t know all the details because I wasn’t in the meeting, but there was a sense that there were punishments and not all of those were apparent, so the decision was taken out of Harry’s hands.”
“The organization’s decision was, ‘We’re not even placing the armband in the locker room.’ There is no argument. The participant had no say.”
On Wednesday, before their game against Japan, Germany’s players covered their lips with their hands, implying that Fifa had muzzled them. Six players, including the team captain Manuel Neuer, wore Adidas boots with rainbow stitching during the club’s shocking 2-1 loss to Japan, while the entire squad wore warm-up jerseys with rainbow-colored sleeves.
Germany was not punished by FIFA, but Southgate questioned whether it would be worthwhile for England to stage a similar protest on Friday.
Southgate stated, “I’m fairly satisfied with our position, and I believe we should be confident in what we stand for.”
“There was a plan, but we were unable to execute it. What do we do now? Do we all attempt to outdo one another with a gesture that, no matter what we do, is surely insufficient?
“We wish to support the LGBTQ community in particular and acknowledge that many of these individuals are not there, despite our desire for their presence. However, we could also rush into actions that make little difference.
“I understand that this will be unsettling for some, as I may be criticized, as the captain has been criticized, and as the organization will be criticized. How I interact with people daily is more essential than a statement that may or may not be favorably received.”
After an injury scare, Kane trained on Thursday and will start on Friday. Southgate said that England, who would advance from Group B with a victory over the United States, will have an unchanged lineup against Gregg Berhalter’s squad. James Maddison’s recovery from a knee injury is ongoing.
Harry Maguire, who has recovered from the dehydration that caused him to be substituted against Iran, has discussed the criticism he has received and linked it to the hatred directed at his former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He is one of the best players of all time and is often criticized,” he remarked. Therefore, if it’s going to happen to him, I believe it’s part of the game.
Southgate disclosed that Prince William instructed England’s players to ignore social media distractions. Southgate stated, “We could not have paid him for greater advice.”
