The Football Association said on Wednesday that England's Harry Kane and other European team captains would wear "OneLove" armbands throughout the World Cup in Qatar to combat discrimination.
Since homosexuality is outlawed in the Gulf state, organizers have had to fight to convince rights organizations that same-sex couples won't be subject to punishment when the event begins on November 20. Ten European countries have joined forces to support the season-long "OneLove" campaign to promote inclusion, which is represented by an armband with a multicolored heart. These countries include England, France, and Germany.
The armbands will be worn in Qatar by Kane and the captains of the other seven World Cup-eligible countries from the group. Kane, who will don the armband for the first time in Friday's Nations League match against Italy, said: "I am honored to join my fellow national team captains in supporting the essential "OneLove" initiative."
"While we may be pitted against one another on the field as captains, we are united in our opposition to all types of prejudice. At a time when social divide is widespread, this is even more important. When the world is watching, wearing the armband together will send a clear message on behalf of our teams."
The "OneLove" campaign, which was launched in the Netherlands prior to Euro 2020, was described by Mark Bullingham, chief executive of England's Football Association, as a "visible display of support for inclusiveness in football."
He added that the FA was still fighting for the idea of compensating migrant workers and their families for fatalities and injuries sustained while working on building projects.
Qatar has received criticism for the treatment of migrant workers on numerous occasions, but it maintains that things have much improved in recent years.
This week, human rights organizations encouraged additional World Cup sponsors to back demands for payments to workers and their families in response to reported abuses.
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