Manuel Neuer is not allowed to wear a “One Love” armband at the start of the World Cup for the German national soccer team. The team doesn’t like it, but attacker Thomas Müller warns not to overload the athletes with expectations. He sharply criticized FIFA.
In the dispute over the “One Love” captain’s armband, national soccer player Thomas Müller criticized FIFA and defended his teammates. “Anyone who expects us footballers to completely leave our path as athletes and give up our sporting dreams, for which we have worked all our football life, in order to position ourselves even more politically, will be disappointed,” Müller wrote on Instagram Day before the start of the World Cup against Japan on Wednesday (2 p.m. / ARD, MagentaTV and in the live ticker on ntv.de).
At the same time, the Bayern Munich professional expressed a lack of understanding for the action taken by the world association: “We do not understand FIFA’s point of view and the way it communicated about the ban on pads in any way.”
The One Love armband was a joint effort announced in September by teams from Germany, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Wales, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, both of which have not qualified for the World Cup. The colorful captain’s armband should be a symbol of equality and freedom of expression at the World Cup. FIFA had announced that it would sanction the wearing of the “One Love” captain’s armband at the World Cup in Qatar. World Cup host Qatar has been criticized for disregarding human rights standards.
“The unrest surrounding the events leading up to the World Cup in Qatar, the ban on the One Love bandage and other strange actions and statements by FIFA are of concern to us players and the entire team,” said Müller. The team and the German Football Association (DFB) are socially committed, wrote the 33-year-old. “With our team foundation, we have launched various initiatives not only in connection with the tournament in Qatar, but also throughout Germany.”
According to Hansi Flick, the German national soccer players reacted “very, very dissatisfied” and “shocked” to FIFA’s ban on the “One Love” captain’s armband. “Because it is a sign of human rights, of diversity, these are the values that we represent and live by,” said the national coach. “I think it’s a shame that you can no longer stand up for human rights.” The world association FIFA had threatened sporting sanctions. DFB captain is goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. “If it’s a yellow card, everything is okay. Then Jo Kimmich is captain, Thomas Müller for the third game. That wouldn’t have been a problem,” said Flick. However, FIFA had left the exact nature of the sanction open.
“The associations said we don’t want to chase the players in there, we’re taking the pressure off, which is reasonable,” said Flick. He is not planning a personal action for himself. That’s no use, said Flick, because it was the joint decision of the associations. Then “you should also stand by the decisions together,” said the national coach.