The international football association Fifa is afraid of the Qatari government. Banning the OneLove tape is a confusing act by FIFA, foreign journalist Sampo Vaarakallio writes.
DOHA. The World Cup started and Fifa is firmly on the leash of the Qatari administration. Qatar determines the ways of expressing opinions, not the Fifa president With Gianni Infantino have your own will in the matter.
The most recent example here is the sad armband farce. The captains of seven European national teams would have liked to wear a OneLove band on their arm.
The ribbon has a rainbow symbolizing sympathy for diversity and the rights of sexual minorities.
It is known that the Qatari administration systematically violates the rights of sexual and gender minorities. Under Qatari law, homosexuality is a crime.
Qatar has spoken sympathetically about the fact that all people are welcome to the games, regardless of sexual orientation, gender or religion.
FIFA has accepted Qatar’s assurance.
The captain of the English national team would have been the first to wear the OneLove rainbow ribbon on his bicep Harry Kane for today’s match against Iran.
Fifa banned the use of the tape in World Cup matches.
It’s confusing, because the same tape has already been seen. The Dutch team launched it at last year’s European Championships. So there would have been nothing new.
The tape ban is really confusing, when Gianni Infantino still felt that he was homosexual a few days ago.
Fifa has defined the messages of the armbands in its own way. They read “No to racism”, “Save the Earth”, “Protect children”, “Education for all” and “Be active.”
So. Who wouldn’t be on the side of those slogans.
With Infantino’s Fifa logic, the armband could also read “Reasonably priced rental apartments for families with children!”
The banning of the OneLove tape can only be explained by the fact that Fifa agrees to Qatar’s understanding of human rights when it comes to the rights of sexual minorities.
Fifa is afraid of the Qatari government.
The organization justified its ban by saying that if, for example, Harry Kane had put the tape on his hand, he would have received a yellow card.
Fifa, in a way, shifts the entire weight of the big human rights issue onto the shoulders of one player by interpreting the football rules.
It’s already delicious.
The England team knelt at the start of the Iran match. It is already a well-established show of solidarity for those who have been kicked in the head.
This time it can be interpreted as a performance of Fifa in front of the Qatari government.
What thoughts did the writing evoke? You can discuss the topic until Tuesday 22 November. until 11 p.m.