Alex Scott has been praised by football fans across the world after defying FIFA's rules and wearing a One Love armband during a live broadcast.
The One Love band contains the rainbow colours associated with the Pride flag and was seen to be a strong statement in Qatar, a country which criminalises same-sex relationships. Ahead of England's 2022 World Cup debut against Iran, captain Harry Kane was due to wear the arm band as well as Wales skipper Gareth Bale during their match against the United States this evening.
However, in a joint statement announced on Monday morning from seven European nations who had signed up to the One Love campaign – including England and Wales – confirmed the armbands will no longer be worn due to fear of a yellow card being issued. The move comes after FIFA threatened players with sporting sanctions, reports Manchester Evening News.
A suspension is issued after two bookings in this tournament, meaning had either player been booked ahead of kick-off, they would already be walking a tightrope.
The broadcaster was met with widespread praise from football fans after wearing the armband despite potential backlash in Qatar. After the programme was introduced by presenter Gary Lineker, with Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards in the studio, the coverage cut to reporter Kelly Somers and Scott pitchside at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
After viewers noticed her sporting the One Love merchandise, Twitter was quickly flooded with praise for the former footballer. @LauraKirk12 tweeted: "Oomg Alex Scott wearing the arm band! things you love to seeeeeeeeeee."
@vgj9_ said: "Kudos to Alex Scott wearing the One Love band on the BBC #ENGIRA." @JiKookcm wrote: "Alex Scott is a f***ing legend for wearing that arm band #FIFAWorldCup #ENG."
@TrafalgarsBae posted: "Alex Scott wearing the One Love band. You go, girl! #FIFAWorldCup." @AmyyyHere shared: "Alex Scott wearing the One Love arm band. Brilliant." @JackDunc1 shared: "Always said if you're going to go cover this tournament, then use that platform for good. Alex Scott is showing support for LGBTQ people to millions in the UK and around the world."
@DiCiccoMethod typed: "What a leader. Alex Scott is a real one. Legend. #OneLove." @Ansh__95 commented: "@AlexScott is my hero of this World Cup, already." @awfc_louise added: "Alex Scott wearing the one love armband live on BBC coverage of the england game. what a woman, big respect."
The decision not to wear the OneLove armband due to FIFA’s ruling has been met with a barrage of criticism, with former England captain Rio Ferdinand saying the Three Lions and the other nations who wanted to wear the strap have "folded like a pack of cards".
"They’ve had one bump in the road and they’ve all folded like a pack of cards," he said on the BBC. "They can’t win as a footballer, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. f you speak out people say, “You’re not a politician, be quiet, get back in your box”. It’s very difficult now.
"That’s why I think the federations have to be stronger. The organisations have to come at this together as a unified approach and say, 'This is where we stand and this is where we go now.'"
The statement issued this morning read: "FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. 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.
"FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. 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."
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