AL RAYYAN, Qatar — German players placed their hands over the mouths during their pregame photo and wore rainbow-colored stripes on their warmup shirts and cleats before Wednesday's game with Japan, the most dramatic protest yet against FIFA's efforts to keep World Cup teams from protesting Qatar's dismal human rights record.
Germany was one of seven European teams that planned to have its captain wear a OneLove armband to promote tolerance, diversity and LGBTQ rights in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are banned. FIFA responded Monday by threatening to issue a yellow card to any player wearing the armband.
But if FIFA President Gianni Infantino thought that would end the matter, he has been proved wrong.
