The Three Lions made the gesture against racism and injustice hours after reversing their plan to wear the OneLove armband due to the danger of Harry Kane being suspended, and Iran chose not to sing their national anthem in an apparent show of sympathy for demonstrators at home.
In a tournament that has been mostly overshadowed by non-sporting matters, including criticism of the host nation for human rights abuses and allegations of FIFA corruption, England began their World Cup campaign in Qatar by kneeling.
The Three Lions made the gesture against racism and inequality just hours after reversing a decision to wear the OneLove armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion due to the possibility of the skipper receiving a red card.
In an apparent display of support for domestic demonstrators, Iran’s team decided not to perform the national anthem.
Off the field, hundreds of spectators attempting to enter Khalifa International Stadium encountered difficulties when they discovered that their ticket app only began functioning minutes before they reached the front of the line.
Fans reported that their tickets abruptly disappeared from the app, preventing them from entering the game.
FIFA stated that it was “trying to resolve the issue” and advised supporters who were unable to access their tickets on their mobile devices to check their emails “for further information.”
One England supporter stated that paper tickets would have sufficed and criticized the organization of the admission.
“We are currently in line, and the game is about to begin. I won’t swear, but I’ll be spewing “declared one enthusiast.
Harry Kane was scheduled to wear the multicolored OneLove armband during the squad’s opening match, while Wales captain Gareth Bale will wear the same armband symbolizing inclusivity when he leads the team out against the United States at Al Rayyan Stadium later in the day.
This morning, however, a joint statement from seven European nations, including England and Wales, that had signed up for the OneLove campaign indicated that armbands will no longer be used.
They stated that, despite their “frustration with FIFA’s decision,” they could not place their players in a position where they could face sporting consequences.
In this tournament, a suspension is handed after two bookings, thus had either player been booked before kickoff, they would have already been walking a tightrope.
England began their campaign against Iran with Kane sporting the FIFA No Discrimination armband.
The teams stated that they were willing to “pay fines that would typically apply to violations of kit laws” but that they “cannot put our players in a position where they could be cautioned or even compelled to leave the field of play.”
The statement continued, “We are extremely disappointed by FIFA’s decision, which we consider to be unprecedented; we informed FIFA in September of our desire to wear the OneLove armband to actively support inclusiveness in football but received no reply.”
Since being selected as the host nation, Qatar has experienced an onslaught of criticism, with the country’s dismal human rights record and ban on same-sex couples proving particularly problematic.
Participation in same-sex sexual conduct is punishable by up to seven years in jail or the death sentence in Qatar.
Negative attention has also been drawn to the safety of migrant workers and the difficulties of conducting a football competition in the desert heat.
The decision follows FIFA’s U-turn on alcohol sales, which prohibited beer sales at the tournament’s eight stadiums, except corporate hospitality venues.
Qatar rigorously regulates the sale of alcohol, which is only permitted in hotel bars and restaurants that are hidden from public view.
The Football Supporters’ Association for fans in England and Wales then criticized the decision, stating, “If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice with no explanation, supporters will understandably be concerned about whether they will fulfill other promises regarding accommodation, transportation, and cultural issues.”
Today, the group released a blistering rebuttal to the armband decision, declaring, “We feel misled.”
“Today, we feel scorn for an organization that has demonstrated its true beliefs by issuing a yellow card to players and a red card to tolerance,” the statement read.
Never again should the World Cup be awarded exclusively based on financial and infrastructure resources. No nation without LGBT+ rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights, or any other universal human right should be granted the privilege of hosting the World Cup.”
Anti-discrimination campaign organization Kicks It Out stated that athletes “should not have to shoulder the cost of FIFA’s blunders” for failing to address the concerns of human rights organizations and the LGBTQ+ community before the competition.
Saturday, FIFA announced its ideas for an armband to showcase a series of social initiatives at each tournament level.
