Alex Scott has been widely praised as she made a stand against FIFA's latest u-turn on players wearing an anti-discrimination armband. The One Love band contains the rainbow colours associated with the Pride flag and had been set to be a strong statement in Qatar, a country which criminalises same-sex relationships.
Harry Kane was due to don the band as the England team makes its 2022 World Cup debut in their first game against Iran on Monday afternoon. Wales skipper Gareth Bale was also due to wear it in the match against the United States later in the evening. But in a joint statement on Monday morning from seven European nations who had signed up to the One Love campaign – which included England and Wales – confirmed the armbands will no longer be worn due to fear of a yellow card being issued.
It comes after FIFA threatened them with sporting sanctions. 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.
