Netherlands have become the latest in a clutch of nations to have backtracked on wearing the ‘OneLove’ armband at the Qatar World Cup - despite the whole plan being their idea.
The captains of nine nations competing at the finals had put plans in place to don the armbands during matches in a bid to support inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar, a country that prohibits same-sex marriage. The idea itself was initially suggested by the Dutch, with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk claiming on Sunday that he was pressing ahead despite the threat of an instant yellow card.
Speaking at a press conference, he said: "I will wear the OneLove armband tomorrow. Nothing changed from our point of view. If I will get a yellow card for wearing it then we would have to discuss it because I don't like to play while being on a yellow."
However, the pressure from FIFA appears to have been too much, with the Netherlands reportedly deciding not to use the armbands in their Group A fixture against Senegal on Monday afternoon.
That decision also follows the FA intervening and also making the same decision as the Dutch. A statement on Monday 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.”
Meanwhile, Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand has hit out at the current laws by maintaining. that yellow cards should only be used for offences on the field of play
What is your view on the OneLove armbands not being used at the World Cup? Share your thoughts in the comments below
He said: “I think this shouldn’t be up to the players. This is not a players’ decision. Imagine going onto the pitch with clear yellow card? Sports’ sanctions should have something to do with the sport.
“Yellow card? We can’t allow the players to go on the pitch with that. It’s up to the federation to sort it out.”
“I don’t see it as controversial. We’ve already played with it. It’s something we have done before.
“It’s not something that has been invented for this occasion. The One Love armband? I can’t see the problem, to be honest.”
Whilst the Netherlands and England have been forced to relent on wearing the armbands, they have been joined by a number of other nations including Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Wales - all of which have penned official statements to confirm the news.
