FIFA has managed to keep hosting the World Cup even as it has faced a barrage of criticism.
On Monday, seven European countries abandoned their plans to wear rainbow armbands signaling anti-discrimination and inclusion after FIFA threatened to punish them for it, including automatically penalizing cards. yellow.
The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland planned to wear the OneLove rainbow armband during their matches. But their respective football associations later said in a joint statement they were “unable” to do so anymore because of FIFA’s threats.
The association said: “We are prepared to pay fines typically imposed for dress code violations and have a strong commitment to wearing the captain’s armband. “However, we cannot put our players in situations where they could be booked or even forced off the pitch.”
On the eve of Sunday’s opening game, FIFA President Gianni Infantino responded to critics with an insulting speech in which he claimed to understand discrimination against disadvantaged groups as a child. As a child, he was bullied for having red hair and freckles.
“Today, I feel like Qatar. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today. , I feel I am disabled. Today, I feel like a migrant worker,” Infantino said. “Of course, I’m not Qatari, I’m not Arab, I’m not African, I’m not gay, I’m not disabled. But I feel like it, because I know it. Which is discrimination, bullying.”
