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Bernd Neuendorf
Photo:
NEIL HALL / EPO
Shortly before the first World Cup game of the German national soccer team against Japan on Wednesday, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf once again criticized the world association Fifa for banning the "One Love" armband.
"Fifa works with intimidation and pressure," said Neuendorf on ARD: "We are in opposition to Fifa.
We want to see how we can initiate further measures.
Tomorrow we have a switching conference with the seven nations.«
Danish association: Fifa threatened more than yellow cards
»We are currently in an extraordinary situation.
I'm not only disappointed, I'm angry," said Jesper Möller, chairman of the Danish Football Association DBU: "We will react to it."
In a press conference scheduled at short notice, he accused Fifa around President Gianni Infantino of using "bullying methods" to prevent the wearing of the "One Love" bandage as a sign of diversity and integration.
Möller announced a joint reaction with the other six European associations, which had given up on their project at short notice due to the threat of sanctions from Fifa.
This also includes the DFB, the next exchange should take place on Thursday.
In order to prevent the wearing of the "One Love" captain's armband at the World Cup in Qatar, Fifa has apparently put more pressure on the European teams than previously known.
"On November 21, Fifa asked for an urgent meeting to discuss the matter," said DBU director Jakob Jensen.
»Fifa came to the English team hotel and made it clear here that there would be sporting sanctions if someone wore the bandage.
And they said there was at least one yellow card.”
Infantino should no longer be supported
As a consequence of the handling of the "One Love" bandage and his other statements in Qatar, the Danish association no longer wants to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino with immediate effect.
The DBU hopes to find an alternative candidate for the Swiss by the time of re-election in March 2023, although the application deadline, according to Fifa, expired last Wednesday.
“There is only one candidate and we have to see if there is another candidate after all.
Because there is still some time, "said DBU chairman Jesper Möller.
One thing is clear: »Denmark will not support the current president.
We must react now.
And we feel like we really have to.
It is deeply reprehensible what happened last time.«
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