England lit up Wembley’s iconic arch in rainbow colors but fans have branded it an “empty gesture” and claim the Three Lions “don’t have the balls to stand up properly” after being threatened by FIFA over the OneLove strip at the World Cup in Qatar
By Michael Rudling for Mailonline
Posted: 19:15, 25 November 2022 | Updated: 20:30, November 25, 2022
England lit up the Wembley Arch in rainbow colors after the FA was warned that Harry Kane would face a serious penalty for wearing a OneLove armband at the World Cup in Qatar.
The FA previously revealed that players who wore the armbands, which were meant to show support for LGBTQ rights in a country where same-sex marriage is illegal, would receive at least a yellow card, possibly worse.
Many fans called for England to face any punishment and take a stand instead of offering hollow gestures and backing down.
Harry Kane had planned to take part in the protest as England captain but pulled out as he could have been suspended and given an “indefinite” ban.
The forward was seen wearing a rainbow Rolex ahead of Friday’s clash against the USA, which may have been intended as a protest.
Speaking to ITV today, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said FIFA: “has put us through a scenario where at the very least anyone who wears the armband will be penalized and also face disciplinary action.
“It was limitless. They will take disciplinary action against any player wearing the armband other than a yellow card.
England lit up Wembley Stadium in rainbow colors in protest against FIFA
It comes after threats of “unlimited punishment” for wearing OneLove bands
Some fans believe FA Wembley protest ‘virtue signalling’ and ’empty gesture’
“It’s not clear, although they’ve just said they’re going to take disciplinary action, and there’s obviously unlimited liability in that action.”
For some fans, the Wembley protest was a weak gesture from the FA following their change of stance on the strips.
Germany protested the decision before the match against Japan earlier this week
“You don’t have the guts to stand properly for a tie so make a pointless gesture instead,” said one fan, while others pointed out that the stand wouldn’t matter given it was “thousands of miles” away from Qatar.
It was also branded an “empty gesture” and “unbelievable” by fans disappointed by England’s backpedaling after initially committing to wearing the OneLove strips.
There were protests from other countries as well, with Germany warming up in rainbow gear and putting their hands over their mouths during the team photo.
Some fans criticized the decision to light the Wembley arch as an empty gesture
The line between politics and sport has overlapped throughout the competition so far.
The treatment of migrant workers and the LGBT community in Qatar was put under the spotlight.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told teams to concentrate on football and some saw the protests as “virtue signaling”, while others saw the World Cup in Qatar as an attempt to whitewash the sport, which should not be allowed to go unchallenged.
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