The Irish arm of Harry Kane’s family has praised England’s World Cup skipper for wanting to defy the host country’s laws against homosexuality.
Kane (29), who has family in Galway and Limerick, was set to protest against Qatar’s unacceptable discrimination against the LGBT+ community before a FIFA statement suggested he and other teammates could be sanctioned for doing so.
Harry’s cousin Pat Fitzgerald (63) told the Irish Mirror that Harry “made his point” – and will not let the controversy “distract his focus”.
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He said: “He stood up for the rights, but they are in the wrong country for protests to be allowed. It’s very strict over there.
“Harry wanted to wear the [rainbow] armband, but he won’t let it distract him now. He’ll put it all to one side for the matches.”
England skipper Harry intended to wear a One Love armband at the World Cup in support of LGBT+ rights in protest at the desert state’s homosexuality laws.
But England’s Football Association (FA) told their captain not to because of a fear of sporting sanctions by governing body FIFA.
Pat added: “It won’t affect him, I don’t think so anyway. He’ll have the football on his mind.
“He made a stance, he raised the issue, he made the point. He did his best.”
Kane and the captains of six other federations - Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Wales - were set to wear the rainbow armbands.
Harry was to be the first when England faced Iran in the first game of Group B this afternoon, a game England won 6-2.
But a joint statement from the seven European nations confirmed the switch.
It stated: "FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.”
Harry could have played football for Ireland thanks to a Limerick grandmother and a Galway grandfather.
He put family heartache aside in 2021 when he led England out at Wembley for the Euro 2020 Final – the country’s first final since 1966 - just days after the death of his grand uncle Paudge Kane.
Paudge was a brother of Harry's late Galway granddad Michael John Kane, who moved to England in the 1950s.
Before the final, which Italy won on penalties, Harry’s cousin Pat said Harry’s grandmother Theresa Fitzgerald would be looking after him from heaven.
He said: “My aunt Theresa Fitzgerald was Harry’s grandmother.
“She would’ve been looking down from heaven on him.”
Theresa left rural Caherline in Caherconlish, Co Limerick, and emigrated to England where she married Harry’s Galway granda Michael John Kane.
Theresa’s grandfather Jim Flood – who is Harry’s great-great granda – was an All-Ireland winner who helped Limerick to a first senior hurling title in 1897.
Harry’s granda Michael John Kane maintained a close link with Letterfrack and Tullycross and often visited with Harry’s dad Pat and Harry.
When fluent Irish speaker Michael John died in 2013, he was buried back in Connemara with famous grandson Harry at the funeral.
Just before Euro 2020, Harry’s Galway cousin Liz Kane, from Letterfrack, revealed that he sent a good luck video message to exam pupils at Clifden Community School.
Harry has netted 13 times for Premier League club Spurs this season so far and has 51 career goals for England before yesterday’s game against Iran.
Limerick cousin Pat said today: “We wish Harry good luck at the World Cup and know he will score more goals.
“He didn’t have any warm up games, so it’s hard to know if he’s in form, but we all hope that he will do well.”
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