The World Cup begins on Thursday and captains will wear FIFA’s new ‘Unite’ armbands, but the governing body of world football has been criticised for a lack of pro LGBTQ+ stance.
It was announced last month that FIFA had partnered with the United Nations to create eight stakeholder-sanctioned armbands that can be swapped out or worn during the month-long tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The ‘Unite’ armbands are a solution to the ‘OneLove’ armband debate that sparked the threat of sanctions being issued to countries, including England and Wales, during the men’s World Cup in Qatar last winter.
While FIFA’s ‘Unite’ armbands will highlight a number of social issues, amongst them inclusion, gender equality, indigenous people and peace, there is no specific armband that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community and none contain the rainbow colours commonly associated as the colours of pride.
Stonewall ambassador Amazin LeThi has been left disappointed, especially given many players involved at the tournament will be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Unite for inclusion is not enough,” LeThi told the PA news agency in reference to one of the eight ‘Unite’ armbands.
“And who are you not wanting to offend by not having the rainbow flag colours for the unite for inclusion armband? It is like, ‘we are uniting for inclusion but only for certain communities,’.
“So many fans as well are part of the LGBTQ+ community. FIFA has had World Cups in countries where there are anti-LGBTQ+ laws so what a statement it would have made this time if the athletes came out wearing an armband in support of the LGBTQ+ community.”
FIFA consulted with national associations ahead of this World Cup in an effort to avoid the row that occurred in Qatar over the ‘OneLove’ armband, with the captains of the nations involved threatened with a yellow card if the bands were worn.
The armbands were viewed by FIFA as a potent symbol of tolerance in a country where same-sex relationships were criminalised, but LeThi, an advocate of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, questioned why the same should apply this time.
She added: “It didn’t surprise me at all because there are obviously politics behind it as well. It was completely disappointing that so many big sports organisations caved in to not supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
“Just the same with the trans exclusion we have just seen with World Athletics recently.
“There is no reason why they can’t this time. Australia has inclusion and equality for the community so they can’t make excuses around sensitivity there.”
England head coach Sarina Wiegman revealed last week the team were happy with the ‘Unite’ armband solution, but captain Millie Bright has not yet announced if she will wear one armband or alternate for the different cause being highlighted in each round of matches.
Injured Euro 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson had signalled in February her intention to this summer wear the contentious ‘OneLove’ armband – which become symbolic for the LGBTQ+ community last winter – but sanctions would be issued for wearing it or any other unsanctioned band, the PA news agency understands.
England men’s captain Harry Kane wore a rainbow-coloured armband during their Euro 2020 last-16 tie with Germany two years ago and LeThi would like Bright to wear the OneLove armband in their World Cup opener against Haiti on Saturday.
View this post on Instagram“The UK prides itself on equality and inclusion. We have just had London Pride where nearly three million people attended, you have LGBTQ+ athletes as part of this team, there isn’t any reason why they can’t wear it.
“When you think about it, it is just an armband with some bright colours on it. Where is the problem?
“Regardless of what FIFA has come up with, I think teams should come out wearing the OneLove armband because it would make such a statement.”
FIFA has been approached for comment.
Milan's Fonseca upbeat despite Champions League loss
Paulo Fonseca viewed Milan's display in their Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen as their best performance of the season.
Milan went down 1-0 at BayArena on Tuesday, meaning they have now lost both of their matches so far in the new-look competition.
The seven-time European champions are now winless across their last six matches against German opposition in major competitions (D4 L2) since a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in April 2007.
Milan came on strong after Victor Boniface's goal early in the second half, though prior to that had been by far second best, mustering only one shot and 0.04 expected goals (xG) in the opening 45 minutes.
They hit the woodwork in the second half while Lukas Hradecky made a smart stop to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and despite the rather grim match statistics, Fonseca believes his team turned in their best display of the campaign.
"We didn't win, but it's the game I've liked the most since I arrived here," Fonseca told Sky Sport.
"Especially in the second half. We played a fantastic game, it's not easy against a team like Leverkusen.
"We are sad and disappointed with the result, but I am satisfied with the courage and form shown.
"It was difficult for us. In the first half we suffered on the wings."
In the closing minutes, Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie made a challenge on Loftus-Cheek at the edge of the area, which the Milan boss believes should have resulted in a penalty.
"For me it's a penalty, it's an intervention on the line," Fonseca said. "What's strange is that they haven't even reviewed the situation. The referee during the game had no doubts, but I don't like to talk about the referee."
Speaking to Milan TV, Fonseca said his side deserved to get something from the game.
"I honestly think the result is not fair, in the second half we created many clear chances," he said.
"It's true that we didn't win, but there was an improvement in our growth. It was evident. This is why we must move forward, because the growth is evident."
Popp to bring curtain down on illustrious Germany career
Germany great Alexandra Popp has confirmed her impending international retirement.
Popp, the captain of Germany's women's team, will play her final game for her country on October 28, against Australia.
The 33-year-old has played for Germany since 2010, and has scored 67 goals in 144 appearances.
She won gold at the Rio Olympics and claimed bronze in Paris this year, while also leading Germany at two World Cups and skippering them at the 2022 Euros, in which they reached the final before losing to England.
"I have always stressed that my gut will make the decision, and now it has," Wolfsburg's Popp said in a video posted on social media on Monday.
"After long, tearful deliberations, I have decided with a heavy heart to end my career with the national team. The fire that ignited in me 18 years ago and grew stronger from year to year has now almost burnt out.
"It was always important to me to make this decisive decision myself, from within myself. Neither my body, which is a ticking time bomb, nor another person should get ahead of me.
"Before the fire is completely extinguished - because then it would be too late - the right time has now come."
Popp missed Germany's Euro 2013 success due to injury.
Al Kholood 2-4 Al-Hilal: Koulibaly on target as champions move to summit
Al-Hilal withstood a late Al Kholood rally to move top of the Saudi Pro League following a 4-2 victory at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
The damage was done during a late first-half surge by the reigning champions, who leapfrogged Al-Ittihad to the summit of the table.
Al-Hilal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through former Napoli and Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who finished after Renan Lodi initially struck the woodwork.
Malcom doubled the lead four minutes later, then Ali Al Bulayhi made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.
Former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Lodi then got in the act to make it four within three minutes of the restart.
The hosts finished the contest the stronger of the two sides with Hammam Al Hammami and a William Troost-Ekong penalty halving the deficit, but that rally could not prevent the visitors from remaining perfect after their first five games.
Data Debrief: Al-Hilal remain perfect
Al-Hilal have won each of their opening five games in a Saudi Pro League season for the third time in their history, also achieving the feat in 2010-11 and 2018-19.
Jorge Jesus' side also continued their dominant record against newly promoted clubs, having now won each of their last nine such matches.
Despite their late surge, Al Kholood suffered their third defeat of the season, though there was individual cause for celebration, as former Al-Hilal player Mohammed Jahfali came on for his 200th Saudi Pro League appearance.
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