"One Love" bandage: Flick and Kimmich react annoyed to questions - "When Qatar got the World Cup, I was 15"

Created: 11/22/2022, 5:52 p.m

By: Patrick Mayer

Bayern star in the DFB team: Joshua Kimmich.

© IMAGO / Jan Huebner

Germany must not play against Japan with the “One Love” bandage.

National coach Hansi Flick and Joshua Kimmich now want to focus on football.

The Bayern star criticizes the critics of the DFB team.

Munich/Qatar - Germany's captain Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern) is not allowed to wear a "One Love" bandage at the 2022 World Cup if it is on Wednesday (2 p.m. CET, here in the live ticker) in the first game of Group E for the DFB team goes against Japan.

World football association Fifa has banned this and threatened sanctions.

Germany without a "One Love" bandage: Hansi Flick and Joshua Kimmich react annoyed

On Tuesday afternoon (CET), national coach Hansi Flick and midfield strategist Joshua Kimmich spoke at the official press conference on the subject - and at times seemed annoyed by the questions.

"Obviously I'm glad that's the first thing to happen.

The team wanted to set an example with other nations," said Flick.

But if you do a campaign together, you have to make decisions together.

And so the decision was made jointly not to wear the "One Love" bandage in the emirate.

The multicolored captain's armband should be a sign for more tolerance and human rights as well as against discrimination.

World Cup host Qatar has been criticized in several western countries for its human rights standards.

Among other things, homosexuality is a punishable offense, and the rights of women in the emirate are also suppressed.

In the video: World Cup in Qatar – Manuel Neuer is not allowed to wear a “One Love” bandage

"The team is very dissatisfied that they can't do it because it would simply be a sign of more human rights, of the values ​​we stand for," Flick continued and then switched to football: "We're happy.

We had a great training session today.

We are here to play football.

Everything is okay."

"One Love" bandage: national coach Hansi Flick has not read any criticism of the DFB team

The decision was only made shortly before England's first game (6-2 against Iran on Monday).

The captain of the "Three Lions", Harry Kane, actually wanted to wear the "One Love" armband.

But then don't do it.

"We couldn't react anymore.

The associations have decided that we can't throw the players in like that," said the Baden coach: "I'm sorry that we're here and can't set an example for human rights."

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He "didn't read" the criticism of the DFB team's withdrawal, explained the national coach.

He had a conversation with his predecessor Joachim "Jogi" Löw, who advised him not to read so much about the trappings during the tournament.

Flick: "I focus on what I'm there for."

Captain of the DFB team and at FC Bayern: Manuel Neuer, here with the One Love armband.

© IMAGO/ Ulmer/Team photo

World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Bayern star Joshua Kimmich now wants to focus on football

Kimmich, however, criticized the critics of the German national team.

"A few weeks ago we discussed the 'One Love' armband and people criticized that it didn't do any good.

Now I have the feeling it's a strong sign," said the 27-year-old Swabian: "In the end it's a decision that all associations supported.

The French and who else was there.

I was very surprised myself.”

Now is the time, "I think, to concentrate on the sport," said the midfielder from Munich and complained: "It was twelve years ago that Qatar got the World Cup.

I was 15 at the time. I don't always have to comment on it." He told reporters in attendance, "We haven't seen much of Qatar, you need to go out and see it."

You're always told not to look forward to it.

Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern) on the World Cup

Backtracking on "One Love" bandage: Joshua Kimmich criticizes critics of the DFB team

Of course, the ban on the “One Love” bandage was discussed in the DFB team, he said: “It is an advantage for us players that we can point this out.

But as footballers, we also have to be able to concentrate on the biggest competition in the world, something that a little boy dreams of." Kimmich said: "You're always told that you shouldn't focus on it (

.) may look forward to.

But I want to look forward to it.

It's a big dream for all of us that we win tomorrow."