Virgil van Dijk has angrily hit back at critics who have accused him and others of having 'no backbone' in the wake of the 'OneLove' armband row.
Seven European nations, including Netherlands, England and Wales, had committed to wearing the rainbow-coloured armband at the World Cup in order to promote diversity and inclusion in Qatar; where same-sex relationships are currently illegal.
The Dutch were the original innovators of the campaign, which came to life back in 2020 and wore the armband during last year's Nations League campaign. But they and the six nations other who had planned to take a stand to show support for the LGBTQ community over the next month backtracked on plans over fears of sporting sanctions.
It is believed that any captain wearing the armband would have been at risk of picking up an immediate yellow card, with two cautions leading to a one-match suspension.
That would have left the likes of Van Dijk, Harry Kane and Gareth Bale missing the final match of the group stage had they carried out their plans - something that Van Dijk stressed was not viable. He told Dutch broadcaster NOS: “I play in a position where a yellow card is not useful. I became a football player and I want to play these kind of tournaments.
“There are people who say we don’t have a backbone, but that’s not how it works,” the Liverpool defender added. "We just want to play football. I would have loved to play with that band, but not at the expense of a yellow card.”
The decision to U-turn on the 'OneLove' armband was slammed online, while Kane stressed he was "disappointed" that he was unable to take part in the initiative.
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While Kane shared his disappointment, ITV pundit Roy Keane hit out at the decision to backtrack on wearing the armband. And the Irishman was adamant that the likes of England and Wales should have worn the armband for their opening match of the tournament before stopping - even if it meant picking up a yellow card.
"I think the players could have done it for the first game,” Keane said before Wales’ match against the USA. “Obviously you're risking Kane if he gets a yellow card if that was going to be the punishment but that would have been a great statement.
"Do it for the first game, you get your yellow card and what a message that would have been from [Harry] Kane or [Gareth] Bale... take your medicine and then the next game you move on. You don't wear it because obviously, you don't want to be suspended.
"I think it was a big mistake, I think both players when we are talking about Wales and England they should have stuck to their guns and done it. Whatever pressure outside. If that's what you believe go with it."
