Status: 12/03/2022 7:59 p.m
The affair about the “One Love” captain’s armband is said to have occupied the German national team more than previously assumed. According to information from the sports show from player circles, the topic “burdened” and “annoyed” the players.
In addition, a large part of the team felt “instrumentalized” when an alternative gesture was sought after the ban on the “One Love” bandage. It was only during the discussion on the day after the opening defeat against Japan that the topic was shelved in order to concentrate exclusively on football from now on.
In the run-up to and after the game against Japan, which was mainly responsible for the failure in the preliminary round, there are said to have been intense discussions among the professionals about the armband and an alternative sign against discrimination.
Discussions since September
Since the German Football Association (DFB) announced in September that Manuel Neuer, like the captains of other European teams, would wear the “One Love” armband at the World Cup, there have been discussions about the “sign against discrimination and for diversity”. , in public as well as in the national team.
The DFB announced its intention to wear the armband, but received no answer from the world association FIFA in the run-up to the tournament as to whether the armband would be considered a political message, which is prohibited according to the regulations on the game equipment.
So a sanction was in the room, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said after the arrival of the delegation in Qatar that he “wanted to accept a fine”.
FIFA announced vague sanctions
Two days before the game against Japan, FIFA, in the person of Secretary General Fatma Samoura, announced that the associations would face serious sporting sanctions if the bandage was worn. With the penalty only being vaguely outlined, England, who started the tournament a day earlier, opted not to wear the armband.
That should have taken the DFB by surprise. According to information from the sports show, a hectic hustle and bustle set in to discuss alternative scenarios. The association leadership and also some players are said to have campaigned to set an example before the game against Japan. Other players, on the other hand, felt “instrumentalised”.
Raphael Brinkert is said to have been consulted about sending a signal against discrimination in a country where homosexual acts are a criminal offence. The managing director of an advertising agency paid for by the DFB is familiar with crisis management. Brinkert, who also advises national player Leon Goretzka, managed the election campaign of the SPD, which was stuck in the polls at the time, for today’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Team leaning on heart symbol
After consultations with the top of the association, DFB managing director and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, the marketing department of the DFB and at least captain Neuer, the team is said to have been given suggestions for alternative signs against discrimination.
According to information from the sports show, the majority of the team rejected the “heart symbol” option, also because it could be seen as an affront to Muslims. The predominantly Muslim state of Qatar, for example, had banned instructions from the West by high-ranking officials and, with a view to the alleged discrimination against LGBTQ+ groups, asked for the culture of the country to be accepted.
The gesture finally shown before the game against Japan in the team photo, that each player put a hand over his mouth, is said to have been accepted within the German team as the lowest common denominator. The gesture was primarily understood as a criticism of FIFA, which had banned the “One Love” armband.
Debate after losing to Japan
On Thursday (November 24th, 2022), one day after the 1: 2 against Japan, there was a long discussion within the team. As Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz reported during a press conference, it was about the lessons learned from the lost game.
But the discussion about signs and gestures, which has long since become a political issue, is also said to have been discussed. According to information from the sports show, it was decided to only concentrate on football from now on.
The campaign that has been worked out has been available since September
This line was followed, but in view of the new findings, the topic symbolized by the “One Love” bandage should come up again.
Also because, according to information from the sports show, there was an elaborate campaign that was intended to set an example in the summer or early autumn. It is said to have been designed in such a way that everyone knows the position of the German delegation in good time before the business trip to the Persian Gulf – against discrimination of any kind, for diversity and human rights.
The DFB is said to have rated the campaign positively, but could not decide to start it. Ultimately, the choice fell on the “One Love” bandage.
Source: sportschau.de