England dropping ‘OneLove’ armbands - which champion diversity and inclusion during the World Cup - allegedly due to FIFA blackmail.
Speaking to German Deutschlandfunk radio, Steffen Simon, the German FA’s media director said: "The tournament director went to the English team and talked about multiple rule violations and threatened with massive sporting sanctions without specifying what these would be.
"We lost the armband and it is very painful but we are the same people as before with the same values. We are not impostors who claim they have values and then betray them. "We were in an extreme situation, in an extreme blackmail and we thought we had to take that decision without wanting to do so."Ex-Manchester United legend Roy Keane disdained the FA’s choice not to wear the armband, regardless of the pressure put on by FIFA.
Speaking to ITV, he said: "England and Wales should have stuck to their guns and gone through with it.Iran upheld their decision to not sing their anthem before their opening World Cup match on Monday - in a sign of support for mass protests back home and a violent state crackdown on the unrest. FIFA’s reputation has been decimated in recent years, with four previous presidents resigning amid corruption allegations and other scandals, or tarnished by them.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
England and Wales decide not to wear OneLove armband at World Cup after FIFA threatEngland and Wales have backed down and decided not to wear OneLove armbands after a threat from FIFA that captains could face an instant yellow card for doing so.
Read more »
England back down over OneLove armband protest after Fifa threatens to book Harry KaneKane, along with captains from the likes of Wales, Denmark and the Netherlands, was due to wear the armband throughout the tournament
Read more »
England give in to FIFA over OneLove armband stance due to potential 'sporting sanctions' - Football365Football365 - A joint statement has said that England and six others have told their captains not to wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup over fears of sporting sanctions.
Read more »
FIFA force Belgium to change their away shirt amid OneLove armband controversyThe Belgium football team have been told by FIFA that they must change their away shirt at the Qatar World Cup – because it has the word ‘love’ on it.
Read more »
Van Gaal insists it's 'crystal clear' FIFA must be questioned over OneLove armbandsThe Netherlands were one of seven European nations who dropped plans to wear the rainbow-coloured ‘OneLove’ bands.
Read more »
'Big mistake' - Man Utd legend Keane hits out at England captain Kane over OneLove armband snubManchester United legend Roy Keane thinks England captain Harry Kane should've worn the OneLove armband despite FIFA warnings.
Read more »