England are considering their approach to the OneLove campaign after it emerged captain Harry Kane could be booked for wearing the rainbow armband in their World Cup opener against Iran on Monday.
OneLove, which promotes 'inclusion and sends a message against discrimination of any kind', has grown in significance in the build-up to the tournament in Qatar, a country in which homosexuality is illegal.
England, along with other European nations like Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, formed an alliance with all stating their captains would wear the armband in a show of solidarity and support with the LGBTQ community.
However, FIFA attempted to wrestle back control of the narrative on Saturday by launching their own collection of armbands across a range of social issues with a different subject for each stage, including 'Save the Planet' and 'Bring the Moves'.
It also emerged they were also considering ordering referees to issue yellow cards to captains wearing the OneLove armbands as soon as matches kicked off.
It has left the Football Association (FA) in an uncomfortable position just hours before Gareth Southgate's men open their campaign at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham told Radio 4's Today programme: "We've had meetings with FIFA this morning and there are discussions that are carrying on.
"We're very keen to wear the armband, we want to do it, but we would need to consider the implications.
"Normally in these situations there'd be a fine that would get paid and we've always said we are very happy to do that – well, happy might be the wrong word but we'd be prepared to pay the fine because we think it's important to show our support for inclusion.
"If the sporting sanction threat is real, though, we'd need to look at that, take a step back and work our if there's another way to show our values."
Seattle Sounders v Sporting Kansas City: Schmetzer wary of ‘dangerous’ visitors
Brian Schmetzer was under no illusion that the Seattle Sounders’ upcoming MLS fixture against Sporting Kansas City will be anything but easy.
The Sounders returned to winning ways in style, comfortably dispatching Leagues Cup winners Columbus Crew 4-0 away from home last time out.
Schmetzer’s side find themselves sitting fifth in the Western Conference table, with the advantage of having four of their remaining six MLS fixtures at Lumen Field.
And the Sounders head coach insisted their home form would be critical until the end of the season, but he acknowledged the task awaiting his players in their next game.
“It is critical. We need to tell the players the importance of home games because last year Sporting KC came here and beat us and it gave them life, while also putting them on a little bit of a run,” Schmetzer said.
“They have an Open Cup final to look forward to, so they are a dangerous opponent. We want to make sure that we get as many points as possible in these home games because we have this advantage.
“They are a similar team to us. It is the MLS, there are ebbs and flows in every season with every team, so we have to be careful.”
Kansas City, meanwhile, are riding the crest of a wave having gone unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions, including securing a place in the US Open Cup final.
But their latest result saw them concede an 89th-minute equaliser against the New York Red Bulls, taking their total to 22 points dropped from winning positions this season, the joint-most in the MLS.
But despite that late setback, head coach Peter Vermes is relishing the battle against a side right in the thick of the playoff picture.
“We have had a lot of good matches against each other over the years,” Vermes said.
“I always think that if you are a fan, or just an innocent bystander watching the game, it always winds up being something that you enjoy because it’s always a good game to watch.
“Both teams try to play and there is a lot of competition between the two teams. It’s physical but it’s never dirty and all of us enjoy participating in those kind of games.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak
Rusnak netted his first career MLS hat-trick in Seattle’s 4-0 win over Columbus last time out.
He became the first Slovakian to score an MLS treble, the 51st different country to have at least one of its representatives score a hat-trick in regular season MLS play.
Kansas City – Johnny Russell
Russell has scored a career-best seven regular season goals against the Sounders, including netting one in the meeting between the sides in June.
Only Chris Wondolowski (12), Robbie Keane (nine) and Fanendo Adi (eight) have scored more regular season goals against Seattle than the Scot.
MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
While Seattle are predicted to emerge victorious according to Opta’s data-led simulations, the Sounders have lost back-to-back home matches, both against Los Angeles FC, in the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup.
Seattle have only lost three of their last 17 matches going back to the beginning of May, with all three defeats coming at the hands of LAFC (W10 D4 L0 vs. all other teams).
Kansas City have enjoyed recent trips to Lumen Field, however, winning four of their last five visits to Seattle (L1) after recording just two wins in their first 11 matches against the Sounders in all competitions (D2, L7).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 53.5%
Draw – 23.8%
Kansas City – 22.6%
Al-Riyadh 0-3 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic double sends hosts top
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice late on to secure Al-Hilal a 3-0 win over Al-Riyadh, sending them top of the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
Salem Al-Dawsari orchestrated the victory though, scoring one and assisting both of Mitrovic's goals, while Marcos Leonardo was denied a strike of his own.
Al-Hilal dominated the first half, managing 10 shots as they smothered the hosts, but they could not find a breakthrough, only testing Milan Borjan twice.
Both sides moved through the gears in the second half though, with Ibrahim Bayesh rifling a powerful effort against the woodwork minutes after the break for the hosts.
Al-Dawsari found a way through shortly after – he made a sensational run down the left before cutting inside and dinking a lovely shot over Borjan and in off the far post.
Leonardo ran off the back of Al-Riyadh's defence and scored a chip of his own, only to have the goal ruled out as he started his run too early.
Mitrovic made sure of the three points after 80 minutes as he slotted in from a tight angle and got his second in the 100th minute to round off a good day for Al-Hilal.
Data Debrief: Al-Dawsari steals the show
After struggling to find their shooting boots in the first half, Al-Hilal can be thankful for their left-winger, who caused all sorts of problems for Al-Riyadh.
He had the most touches in the opposition box (seven), and created the most chances (four), while only Ruben Neves (27) made more passes than him in the final third (22).
Holstein Kiel 1-6 Bayern Munich: Kane hat-trick keeps visitors perfect
Harry Kane's hat-trick ensured Bayern Munich's perfect start to their Bundesliga title charge continued as they thrashed newly promoted Holstein Kiel 6-1 on Saturday.
Jamal Musiala, Kane and Nicolai Remberg's own-goal gave the visitors a commanding lead at the break, with the England captain grabbing his treble in the first minute of second-half injury time.
Vincent Kompany's side went ahead after just 14 seconds when Musiala finished beyond Timon Weiner, with Kane doubling their advantage six minutes later following a mistake from Lewis Holtby.
Musiala was again involved for Bayern's third, seeing his cutback turned home by Remberg before Kane put the result beyond doubt with a fine finish from the edge of the box.
Substitute Michael Olise notched his first Bayern goal after Alphonso Davies' shot was parried into his path, with Armin Gigovic's 82nd-minute strike taking some of the gloss off an otherwise impressive display.
But Kane was not to be denied his hat-trick after taking a tumble in the box - dusting himself down he emphatically fired home a trademark spot-kick.
Data Debrief: HurryKane demolishes Kiel
With his goals against Kiel, Kane has now scored against all 18 clubs he has faced in the Bundesliga.
In the division's history, only Miroslav Klose has faced more different opponents and scored against all of them (28).
Kane has also now been directly involved in 50 goals in 35 Bundesliga games for Bayern since his move from Tottenham last year.
Only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has reached that total quicker, managing that tally in 44 games during his stint with Borussia Dortmund.
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