Football fans have praised Germany for their “powerful gesture” after they covered their mouths for a World Cup photograph in protest at being blocked from wearing an anti-discrimination armband. The national team players made the gesture as they prepared for kick-off in their opening match against Japan at the Khalifa Stadium on Wednesday.
It followed a joint statement from seven European nations – including Germany, England and Wales – to drop plans to wear the OneLove armband after threats of sporting sanctions from FIFA. The German football federation, the DFB, said on Twitter: “We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.
“Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard. It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case.
