"One Love" bandage: So little backbone, that must be painful – comment on the withdrawal
Created: 11/22/2022, 9:33 am
By: Nico-Marius Schmitz
Manuel Neuer wears a armband reading "One Love" during a friendly against Oman.
© Christian Charisius/dpa
After FIFA threatened sporting penalties, Manuel Neuer will not wear a "One Love" armband at the 2022 World Cup.
A commentary by Nico-Marius Schmitz.
Munich — The bosses of eight European football associations will be hunched over the streets of Qatar for the remainder of the World Cup.
So little backbone, it must be painful, as tz.de reports.
The teams from Germany, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Wales, France and Denmark had actually agreed to wear a "One Love" armband at the 2022 World Cup.
But not with FIFA around the Swiss villain (current place of residence Doha) Gianni Infantino.
The world association has put massive pressure on the European associations, with significant sanctions, such as yellow cards for the captains threatened.
World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Discussion about "One Love" bandage - Fifa acts authoritarian
The monster FIFA rages through world football as it pleases.
The fact that the countries in a state that excludes and persecutes homosexuals with the slogan "Football unites the world" now has to appear is a mockery.
FIFA acts in an authoritarian manner and can be bought by any regime for enough money.
But it is also a failure of the European alliance.
Attitude arises when one remains steadfast despite possible consequences.
One after the other, the European federations buckled, bowing to Infantino's system.
DFB does without "One Love" bandage in Qatar - Neuendorf frustrated
For weeks, the DFB around President Bernd Neuendorf had campaigned for the "One Love" bandage.
Repeatedly stressed that (fine) penalties are acceptable.
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On Sunday, Neuendorf reaffirmed that Manuel Neuer would wear the said bandage.
Just a day later, the brash statements were no longer worth anything.
Of course you also have to think about the players.
For many it may be the only World Cup, the highlight of their career.
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One-Love-Bind: Capitulation proves FIFA once again that it has the freedom to fool
The DFB and the other associations must finally defend themselves against FIFA.
And set clear signals.
Neuendorf said they were "frustrated" while noting that Infantino had not been given a vote in the upcoming presidential election.
But that's not enough.
It must not continue to watch as Infantino defaces the sport.
A first step would have been to insist on the bandage.
Showing strength together.
The capitulation proves to FIFA once again that it has the freedom to fool.
A commentary by Nico-Marius Schmitz
