Support for 'One Love' Prevails

FIFA has banned the wearing of the One Love captain's armband at the World Cup in Qatar, warning of game-related sanctions against players that go against the ruling. The reason given is its own regulations: "For FIFA final competitions, the captain of each team must wear the captain's armband provided by FIFA." In addition to England and Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Wales, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden had signaled their intentions to participate in the campaign.

The armband, with the colorful striped heart and the number 1, was intended to send a signal against the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people, racism and anti-Semitism. In early November, the Statista Global Consumer Survey asked people in England and Germany what they thought of such a solidarity badge. The result: overwhelmingly in favor. Only a minority of eight percent in England and 14 percent in Germany disagreed.