Manuel Neuer actually stuck to the “One Love” bandage.Image: IMAGO / Ulmer/Team photo
The World Cup kicked off in Qatar on Sunday afternoon with the hosts’ opening match against Ecuador, which saw the Qatari National team lost 0:2. What remains of the game: fans who left the stadium after half-time at the latest, a fan mile that was closed due to overcrowding and Ecuadorian fans who loudly demanded “We want beer”. That was banned just 48 hours before kick-off by the World Cup host.
At the same time, Fifa issued penalties for the seven teams that announced that they wanted to play with the “One Love” captain’s armband at the weekend, if they will run up with this one. Including Manuel Neuer for Germany. The captain could face a fine or a yellow card. From the second he would then be blocked for the following game.
Because: The world association Fifa announced on Saturday that it would release its own captain’s armband. It should be decorated with slogans like “#FootballUnitesTheWorld” or “#NoDiscrimination” and be mandatory for the teams.
“We are very frustrated with Fifa’s decision, which we believe is unprecedented.”
The national teams of Germany, England and Co. in a joint statement on the “One Love” bandage
Germany will not appear with the “One Love” bandage
At a press conference on Monday morning, with Niklas Süle and Jamal Musiala, before the second game of the World Cup with England against Iran, the DFB commented on the controversial bandage as follows: “We want to wait for the consultations between the Uefa Working Group and Fifa. “
Only about 30 minutes later it was clear: The German national team will not wear the “One Love” armband, as has been announced several times before. Just like the other national teams, like the English team playing on Monday.
Harry Kane (centre) wears the ‘One Love’ armband in the Nations League game against Italy in September.Image: AP / Antonio Calanni
A joint statement said: “We are very frustrated with FIFA’s decision, which we believe is unprecedented.” However, the national federations “did not want to put their players in a situation where they could face sporting sanctions, including dismissals.”
According to the DFB, it informed Fifa early on, back in September, that it wanted to wear the “One Love” bandage. It followed: no answer. In their statement, however, the teams also announced that the players and coaches “will show their support in other ways.”
Reactions are clear – ex-DFB star angry
“How repulsive, embarrassing and uncomfortable is the German team? No civil courage. Endlessly sad,” wrote one Twitter user.
Lisa Höfer, sports journalist at RTL, asks herself: “I don’t know what’s more pathetic: to ban the ‘One Love’ captain’s armband last minute or that the big associations all cave in and go along with it?”
The journalist and TV presenter Milena Preradovic suspects: Hoeneß seems to “cost the free courage of the DFB a bit too much”.
Ex-DFB star and author of the documentary “Qatar – why only?” Thomas Hitzlsperger also expressed anger at European teams’ decision not to wear the “One Love” armband. “How pathetic!” he writes Twitter and suggests, “How about rainbow shoelaces?”