FIFA is moving closer to allowing teams to wear inclusive rainbow armbands at this year’s Women’s World Cup, and has specifically taken a policy that banned similar armbands at last year’s Men’s World Cup in Qatar. may withdraw.
FIFA threatened teams and their captains with heavy penalties in November in an attempt to silence a long-planned anti-discrimination statement just hours before the World Cup kicked off, slamming ties to the football governing body and several participating nations. A crack occurred.
But this week, after months of talks between football coaches and national federations that allow players to highlight the causes that matter to them on the biggest stage of women’s football, FIFA has introduced armband rules to 32 teams. I will send you a letter outlining. It will enter the competition.
The letter could come as early as Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the debate, who declined to speak publicly because FIFA’s final decision on the issue has not yet been communicated to member countries. It will be sent to each team.
With an agreement that appears to have been reached, captains of teams wishing to participate in efforts to promote inclusivity (a FIFA-approved message that will be the theme of the first round match) will wear rainbow armbands during the match. will be allowed to do so. A month-long event in Australia and New Zealand.
The design, like the so-called One Love version, which is banned in Qatar, is similar in color to the famous flag that serves as a symbol of LGBTQ pride, but is intentionally not identical.
FIFA will allow countries to decide whether to wear rainbow armbands, and will highlight other social justice words and phrases on solid blue armbands for captains and teams that opt out, according to people familiar with the talks. They plan to offer options. A neutral FIFA armband with the message “Football unites the world”.
In the late rounds of the tournament, FIFA and national teams will promote themes beyond inclusivity. Co-host Australia, for example, promotes the wearing of armbands that emphasize the rights of indigenous peoples. (In a related decision, FIFA plans to fly indigenous flags at World Cup stadiums in Australia and New Zealand to show its support for issues of particular interest to both host countries.)
It was not easy to get agreement on armbands. At one stage of negotiations, which have dragged on for months at times between FIFA and the teams, there is a growing sense that the rainbow armbands demanded by supporters of the inclusiveness campaign will not be allowed. . As recently as March, German officials said they were informed directly by FIFA about the rainbow armbands players have been wearing for years. Won’t be allowed in the Women’s World Cup.
Federation officials hope that won’t be the case when FIFA informs teams of its final plans this week.
Players from several Women’s World Cup teams talked about their games. the purpose The month-long tournament, which features dozens of gay athletes, will highlight support for the LGBTQ community. A few teams have already worn rainbow armbands in many games, and other players and teams have used armbands and wristbands in the past to highlight issues such as: sexual abuse, Gender equality and gun control.
Following backlash, public outcry and online scorn at FIFA over the rainbow armband ban in Qatar, where homosexuality is outlawed, FIFA likewise wants the issue off its agenda. You may be thinking
“We’ve all gone through a learning process,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said of the armband battle during a trip to London in March. “What we’re trying to do better this time is explore a dialogue with everyone involved – captains, federations, players, FIFA – to capture different sensitivities and think about what we can do to express our positions and positions. It’s a value or feeling that someone has in a positive way without hurting other people.
“We are looking for dialogue and will find a solution well before the Women’s World Cup,” he expected at the time. The tournament starts on July 20th.