An LGBTQ+ football club has slammed the OneLove armband saying it was 'already an embarrassingly small gesture' towards inclusivity. Village Manchester FC, based in Manchester, issued a statement on Monday (November 21), after plans were dropped for players to wear the multi-coloured armbands due to a possible threat of sporting sanctions.
England and Wales are among the teams who will now not wear the rainbow armband in their World Cup matches after FIFA threatened them with sporting sanctions. In September, the Football Association had announced plans for a group of 10 national team captains to support the OneLove campaign in order to highlight the oppression of the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
A joint statement from seven European nations who had signed up to the OneLove campaign confirmed the armbands would no longer be worn due to fear of a yellow card being issued. Harry Kane instead wore FIFA’s ‘No discrimination’ armband – which is not rainbow coloured – as England started their campaign against Iran on Monday afternoon.
READ MORE: 'England's World Cup armband U-turn is a wasted opportunity, but not a surprise'
Sharing a statement on social media, Village Manchester FC, an LGBTQ+ inclusive team, wrote: "An armband that's barely visible from the side of the pitch, let alone on TV, was already an embarrassingly small gesture towards inclusion. Our expectations of FIFA have long been rock bottom. Today they continue to prove that they are not fit to govern the game."
And the club's chair James Cole also slammed England and other countries for not 'sticking to their guns' over wearing the band. Since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar 12 years ago, controversy has followed FIFA over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers and their anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
The Chair of Village Manchester FC said: "Obviously it's very disappointing that the OneLove armband hasn't been worn by Harry Kane today. It's not just the FA, there were six other national football associations involved. If you're going to try and make a gesture, at least stick to your guns. It wasn't even a particularly big gesture - if it was intended to be a symbol of LGBTQ+ solidarity, they went out of their way to make it as difficult to see as possible.
"As unhappy as I am with the FA over this, it's nothing compared to my feelings about FIFA and the absurdity of the World Cup taking place in Qatar. I agree with FIFA that sport is a powerful tool to bring people together and change lives. Where we seem to differ is that I believe sport can and should change lives for the better."
Village Manchester FC first formed more than 25 years ago by a group of friends who wanted to play the sport, but did not feel comfortable joining a 'normal' football team. The club is now a fixture in two local FA Leagues and are welcoming new players.
"We cater for all levels of ability, and provide a safe space for people to play football without having to worry about being judged by those around them. That, to me, is sport making a difference," James added.
"If FIFA want football to be a force for good, they need to place contingencies on the hosting of the World Cup. There need to be contractually guaranteed minimum levels of worker protection and human rights to even be considered to hold the flagship tournament of the world's biggest sport.
"If FIFA, the highest authority, can't make football fair and open to all, then FIFA isn't fit for purpose."
FIFA has worked to receive assurances from the Qatari authorities that rainbow flags carried by supporters are allowed at stadiums and everywhere else. Their statement also reminded teams that “For FIFA Final Competitions, the captain of each team must wear the captain’s armband provided by FIFA.”
The FIFA statement added: “FIFA is an inclusive organisation that wants to put football to the benefit of society by supporting good and legitimate causes, but it has to be done within the framework of the competition regulations which are known to everyone.”
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