World Cup 2022: England threatened with 'unlimited' sanctions over OneLove armband

Fifa allegedly threatened "infinite" fines against players who wore the OneLove armband during games during the World Cup in Qatar, according to Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham.

To encourage diversity and inclusion, England, Wales, and five other European countries intended to wear the armband.

After receiving a sporting sanctions threat from Fifa, they were compelled to abandon those plans.

Bullingham claimed the FA interpreted Fifa's threat to mean that players could receive suspensions.

"It had no limits. In addition to disciplining any player who had received a yellow card while donning the armband, "He spoke to ITV Sport.

Respect should be shown to LGBT football supporters at the World Cup.
According to the governing bodies of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, they wrote to Fifa in September to let them know about the OneLove armband but did not hear back.

Bullingham continued, "We had several discussions with Fifa over that time, and on Saturday before the game we believed we had achieved an arrangement where we would wear it. "Although we didn't have authorization, there would be a fee for it.

"Unfortunately, they only provided us ten minutes' warning two hours prior to the game on the day in question.

They arrived with five officials, and they went over a scenario in which, at the very least, anyone wearing the wristband would be arrested and subject to additional disciplinary action.

Although the German Football Federation (DFB) announced it would look into the legality of Fifa's threat to punish players for donning the armband, no disciplinary action was taken.

Although the Wembley arch was lighted up in rainbow colours before Friday's match against the USA, the England players decided against continuing their protest.

The FA stated in a statement that it would "continue to demonstrate our support for the LGBTQ+ community and all other communities during this tournament and long beyond," beginning with lighting the Wembley Stadium arch in rainbow hues for the match against the USA on Friday night.

 

 

Source : https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63763638