Reported Arsenal transfer target Orkun Kokcu has explained that his religion made him feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing a captain's armband supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
The 21-year-old midfielder, whose impressive rise at Dutch club Feyenoord has been noticed by multiple elite clubs, handed over the captaincy for his side's 3-1 win away to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday following a decision made pre-match. Teams in the Eredivisie were encouraged to wear the 'OneLove' armband over the weekend, as it contains the same rainbow-infused design which England captain Harry Kane will don during the World Cup in Qatar next month in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people.
But Kokcu refused his usual responsibility for their Eredivisie fixture, instead giving Austrian defender Gernot Trauner the opportunity to promote diversity. In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, shortly before kick-off, Kokcu said: "I have decided not to wear the rainbow captain's armband this round.
"I think it's important to emphasise that I respect everyone regardless of religion, background or preference. I believe that everyone is free to do what they want or feel. I fully understand the importance of this action, but because of my religious beliefs, I don't feel the right person to support this.
"That's why I don't feel comfortable wearing this captain's armband. I can imagine some people are disappointed with this. That is absolutely not my intention, although I realise that I may not immediately be able to take away that feeling with these words. But I hope that my choice for religious reasons will also be respected."
The Turkey international, who's a product of Feyenoord's academy, scored a penalty and registered an assist during Sunday's victory, increasing his stock amid the interest from Arsenal. The Gunners have reportedly been told that Kokcu would cost an eye-watering £50million, with Real Madrid also interested.
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Meanwhile, the FA are firm in their stance that Three Lions skipper Kane will wear the rainbow armband at the World Cup, even if they face potential fines from FIFA, who are yet to sanction its use. In Qatar, same-sex relationships and the promotion of same-sex relationships are criminalised.
Kane has backed the OneLove campaign, with the Tottenham striker saying: "I am honoured to join my fellow national team captains in supporting the important OneLove campaign. As captains, we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination. This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society."
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham added: "We're coming together as a group to wear the OneLove armband until the end of the season as a visible show of support for inclusion in football - something we strongly believe in and have consistently supported."
