"Then he asked me about the bandage": Faeser explains her excitement picture with Infantino

Created: 2022-11-26 06:33

By: Marcus Giebel

According to FIFA, there is no place for the “One Love” bandage at the World Cup in Qatar.

Nancy Faeser still showed up with her at the stadium.

And discussed with Gianni Infantino.

Munich – It is the most famous captain's armband in the world of football.

It has become a political issue.

And so she finally managed to get a photo together with Gianni Infantino, the powerful president of the world football association FIFA.

The piece of fabric with the "One Love" symbol, a white one in a colorful heart, made the headlines at the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

Nancy Faeser was responsible for the last act of the fuss so far, with which seven European national teams wanted to send their captains onto the field at the controversial tournament.

The Minister of the Interior attended the DFB team's opening game against Japan (1:2) and wore the "One Love" bandage, which is forbidden for the active players and which stands for diversity and tolerance.

She even got into conversation with Infantino on the honorary stand of the Khalifa International Stadium, as she revealed after her return to Germany.

World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Faeser claims to have spoken to Infantino about the "One Love" bandage

According to her, the SPD politician was offered the seat next to the Swiss due to the absence of a government representative from Qatar.

"Then he also asked me about the bandage, whether that's the bandage, then I said to him: 'And it's not as bad as you think, is it?'" Faeser reported the exchange according to the

.

This is probably how the photo circulating on the Internet came about, in which Infantino can be seen standing next to the seated Faeser and pointing to the bandage with a smile on his face.

The social democrat also claims to have met him critically and told him "that I see FIFA's decision as a big mistake".

The World Cup organizers had banned the players from wearing the bandages, under threat of apparently unspecified penalties, because FIFA provides the bandages for its tournaments itself.

The copies for the weeks in Qatar are also provided with various slogans such as "SaveThePlanet", "NoDiscrimination" or "FootballUnitesTheWorld".

Up close and personal with the “One Love” bandage: Home Secretary Nancy Faeser brought the piece of cloth and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino together.

© Twitter/@JensWeinreich

Faeser at the World Cup in Qatar: Police officers are said to have removed the rainbow flag from fans

Most recently, even the European Parliament condemned FIFA's actions against the football associations of Germany, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Wales in a resolution.

Faeser called the pressure exerted from the Infantino house incredible.

She was also disappointed by the hosts themselves, as it turned out that the promises made by Qatar before the tournament were not being kept.

Her fans reported that the rainbow flag had been taken away from them by the police before entering the stadium.

An extensive ban on beer in the World Cup arenas - actually common in Qatar - was only officially imposed for the tournament shortly before the start.

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Faeser also recalled the silent protest of the German starting eleven: the players had covered their mouths during the mandatory team photo to demonstrate that FIFA would silence them.

The minister responsible for top-class sport, who is believed to be the only member of the government to travel to Qatar, said: "I expressed my protest by wearing the 'One Love' armband."

How things will continue for the symbolic bracelet seems to be clear.

According to a report in the news magazine

, the Haus der Geschichte Foundation would like to take over the bandage as an exhibit for the museum in Bonn.

A corresponding request had been made to the Ministry of the Interior.