2022 Qatar World Cup: Captains Wearing One Love/ LGBTQ Armband Could Be Booked

One Love armband wearers in the Qatar World Cup run the risk of receiving a booking for violating FIFA equipment regulations prior to the game.

In Qatar, a nation that criminalizes same-sex partnerships, captains from nine different European countries, including England’s Harry Kane, Wales’ Gareth Bale, and Germany’s Manuel Neuer, planned to wear the One Love armbands to promote inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights.

According to reports in Bild, the DFB is currently debating whether Neuer should start given the potential repercussions, while Kane is anticipated to start England’s match against Iran on Monday.

The current FIFA equipment rules state that: ‘At FIFA tournaments, match staff must wear official clothing and equipment provided by FIFA, including FIFA event badges specified and provided by FIFA.’

The One Love armbands may be considered unofficial attire, and players wearing them may be fined or given yellow cards.

The FA’s Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham, has already stated that England is ready to pay a punishment for using the armband.

He stated that it was “very vital to represent our principles” and that it was “sad” that many LGBTQ+ England fans had refrained from traveling to Qatar due to security fears.

FA requested FIFA’s approval to wear the One Love armband last month, but they never heard back.

In response, FIFA has introduced its own captain’s armband as a part of a social campaign operated in conjunction with the UN that will support a new cause for each round of the competition.