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chris_dea t1_ix7mwhg wrote

I'd be very interested in hearing from the referees, whether they would be willing to bow to Adolf's Gianni's wish to see players booked for wearing the rainbow armband.

After all, you can only be a tyrant if you have minions willing to enforce your rules.

16

Ok-Discount3131 t1_ix7o31g wrote

Replying to judotongue (#599,271)

They don't want to miss out on the world cup. Thats more important to them than taking a stand or having silly things like morals. In the end they will bow down and do whatever FIFA and Qatar want. If they were told to deliver an anti LGBT message or face being kicked out of the tournament they absolutely would.

23

Ok-Discount3131 t1_ix7oqia wrote

>Football is for everyone, but not if you are gay.

This message is now endorsed by England players. Maybe they should wear that as an armband?

2

Radhoo2k10 t1_ix7srtd wrote

They should wear it anyways. Get the yellow card, then the red. The give the armband to the next guy. Rince and repeat. That would be a statement if both teams got 11 red cards in the first game. What would FIFA do then?

106

teabagmoustache t1_ix7t4r5 wrote

I get that it was an FA decision agreed by the European nations but it is pathetic behaviour from all the nations involved.

The FA's reasons are that they didn't want to pressure players into getting booked for making a statement but surely that should be up to the players themselves.

Accepting a yellow card for wearing an armband would have been an even bigger statement but they all collectively shit their pants.

48

mortonr2000 t1_ix7vbx8 wrote

This tournament and everyone associated with it gets more pathetic every day. Such a win for freedom of speech /s

4

__ferg__ t1_ix7xl0v wrote

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad, that the Iranians make a stronger political statement with staying silent during the anthem, than those European nations shouting so loud before and then shy away when there are "consequences"...

371

teabagmoustache t1_ix7xw1x wrote

Replying to Ok-Discount3131 (#599,350)

Not wearing an armband isn't exactly the same as wearing one with the opposite message.

They should have worn them regardless of repercussions to make a statement but as a gay person, I personally don't agree with what you said.

14

T1mberVVolf t1_ix7zs4q wrote

There is not a more tee’d up, perfect situation for anybody to make a scene and do something that would REALLY embarrass Qatar and FIFA on the world stage.

78

SlickyKimmel t1_ix7zxzo wrote

Qatar is basically telling the West "we take your most beloved sport event through bribery, move it to the winter, swap fans for paid actors, take away the beer, make thousands of powerful people shut up about human rights, and we get away with it because we're rich enough."

401

bigbadali t1_ix848vs wrote

Hahahahaha, so the Morals and human rights are not as Important as a yellow card... that hypocrisy gets better and better

85

Dizzel8 t1_ix84idl wrote

What happened to all their tough talk

32

JoAngel13 t1_ix8526b wrote

It fucking crazy, they had no balls anymore, not man enough anymore, to stand up for what is right or wrong it is just a armband, not even in rainbow colors, nothing else.

Only what matters is money

It is a shame.

4

Unlucky_Entrance_512 t1_ix857y6 wrote

I would have considered watching a few games if FIFA hadn’t given the World Cup to a country with religious values over human rights values.

1

androidfig t1_ix85c57 wrote

Cowards. We know who the the old masters are; those with all the $$$

13

Valiantheart t1_ix88q6m wrote

They're soccer players not political activists.

1

partizan92 t1_ix89ypf wrote

They’ll just win all their matches 1-0 instead.

1

Revere_AFAM t1_ix8a2r2 wrote

FIFA doing their best to keep the integrity of the game in line with the integrity of its executives

2

drlongtrl t1_ix8a2rd wrote

So what if Neuer get´s excluded from the tournament? Our chances to win this cup notwithstanding, it wouldn´t even matter if we did win, what with all that´s going on besides the actual game.

It would be such a strong message to walk into those consequences, head held high, saying "I know what is going to happen and I´m doing it anyway".

His career isn´t in danger through this. In fact, I´d bet his popularity would go through the roof. And since football, on that level at least, is as much if not more about monetary value than about sport, that would even turn out good for the DFB and FC Bayern.

Show the world that you care!

14

PaxNova t1_ix8aepe wrote

This is absurd, and would be funny if it weren't so sad. This is supposed to be some kind of statement about how horrible Qatar is, and we're doing it by wearing a rainbow armband?!

If you don't support Qatar, then don't play in the World Cup. Don't give them the revenue. It's not enough to say "we don't support you" while you're currently supporting them.

9

SeattleBattles t1_ix8b152 wrote

I can't I'm surprised they backed down, but I'm still disappointed.

Fuck FIFA. Fuck Qatar. Fuck these feckless cowards.

7

Fishflakes24 t1_ix8bs97 wrote

Replying to Radhoo2k10 (#599,609)

Imagine training and dedicating your whole life into playing a sport and finally getting to the worlds greatest tournament and the opertunity to show the world how good you are and then just throwing it all away for some political statement.

There athletes not politicians...

−7

RTwhyNot t1_ix8byb8 wrote

Cowards. It would be great if entire teams decided to do this at the quarter finals stage. Not much FIFA could do at that point

5

gusthefireman t1_ix8c2kp wrote

Nobody gives a crap about the sexuality or orientation of players on the pitch. Fans just want the best available player at each position. I am not sure why sports has to be supportive of every social movement. Yes, I get the extremely high profile and worldwide exposure of the FIFA world cup. They tried to bully Kramer in 1995, but he wouldn't wear the ribbon. Now, they have co-opted Bob Marley's song!

−6

Fishflakes24 t1_ix8calk wrote

Replying to teabagmoustache (#599,633)

What they mean is they don't want to put the players in a position where they have to either risk getting sent home from a tournament they have spent there whole lifes training for by wearing an armband or getting attacked on social media and have people shouting for sponsors to cancel them for refusing to wear an arm band.

It was done to take the decision away from the players so they can't be blamed for either outcome.

21

krom0025 t1_ix8cb26 wrote

What you can do is take your teams and go home. Don't play the games at all.

1

eXistencial_v0iD t1_ix8cu2w wrote

Those are top tier teams, should've forfeited the games until FIFA caved. I'm sure the people going to the games and FIFA's broadcast partners would've loved to have dead air during Germany, England, Belgium or Dutch games.

51

GoodGoodGoody t1_ix8ghb7 wrote

Any fan who buys a ticket, any broadcaster who airs one minute or sells a commercial, any celebrity who preforms or endorses this cup, and and country who subsidizes teams who play, are all absolute scum.

−2

beenburnedbutable t1_ix8h7jr wrote

Fuck FIFA and F1

FUCK QATAR

I’m boycotting it all. If you can’t stand up for basic human rights, you should really evaluate why.

For me this boycott includes their sponsors and their products as best I can.

So for me that is no Coca Cola, no adidas, no Nike, no new balance, no McDonald’s, no InBev, no Visa, no Hyundai, no Hisense.

4

Dats_Russia t1_ix8i3wp wrote

Replying to Fishflakes24 (#601,263)

The following athletes were political:

  • Mohammad Ali (Olympic Gold Medalist)
  • Tommie Smith and John Carlos (Olympic Gold and Bronze medalists)
  • Jesse Owens (Olympic Gold Medalist)
  • Jackie Robinson (Broke Baseball color barrier and 6× All-Star (1949–1954) and World Series champion (1955))
  • Bill Russel (11× NBA champion (1957, 1959–1966, 1968, 1969) 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961–1963, 1965), 12× NBA All-Star (1958–1969), and Olympic Gold Medalist)
  • Kareem Abdul Jabar (6× NBA champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), 2× NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985), 6× NBA Most Valuable Player (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980), 19× NBA All-Star (1970–1977, 1979–1989))
  • Pat Tillman (quit the NFL to fight in Afghanistan, dude was legit good)

Do I need to go on?

13

ProfessionalMottsman t1_ix8i7wv wrote

Replying to __ferg__ (#599,983)

It doesn’t happen overnight. Can we at least try and show How beneficial it is to everyone if we work together and understand why it benefits everyone to accept everyone? It is so hypocritical when me2 movements and racial movements are so recent in the west but still not even there yet but we are still fighting for them. Come on. Let’s work positively together for everyone

4

DaleRobinson t1_ix8iq2s wrote

Replying to Negative_Band183 (#601,673)

Absolutely, and it’s painfully obvious. It may be a recycled-to-death quote but “Be the change you want to see in the world” will forever be relevant. It’s as if people want the world to exist in a constant cycle of oppression and bullshit.

3

bluetriumphantcloud t1_ix8iwk7 wrote

the armband -- which features a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities

This is what they fear, everyone being acknowledged and respected, and FIFA is so far in their pocket they are acting as their Gestapo.

1

subliminimalist t1_ix8j74j wrote

Replying to Dats_Russia (#601,813)

These are the exceptions that prove the rule. Yes, there are athletes who put their careers at risk to make a political or cultural statement, but part of what makes them so memorable is that they're exceptional and outside the norm. Would it be good if more followed their examples? Sure, but it's naive to expect it.

−4

Ok-Discount3131 t1_ix8jeff wrote

Replying to Valiantheart (#600,978)

Can't speak for the other countries, but the England players actually are political activists. They are heavily involved in social justice politics, have clashed with government ministers, wear clothing during matches with political messages, and make political statements on the pitch. Thats why people are angry about it. Because they are making themselves out to be hypocrites.

7

-Sybylle- t1_ix8jpm9 wrote

money > convictions

Iranians have more guts than any EU country at this point in time

23

Dats_Russia t1_ix8kryo wrote

Replying to subliminimalist (#601,907)

The Iran National Wrestling Team and Team USA wrestling are two of the highest caliber wrestling programs in the world and they frequently defy both their countries (team Iran has more to lose) to advance positive relations and make political statements.

Athletics has always been and will always be political. It would be nice if sports could be apolitical escapism BUT since the days of Ancient Greece, sports, especially the international kind have been political! Whether it is Iroquois and Algonquin tribes using lacrosse instead of traditional war or Colin Kaepernick taking a knee.

Some athletes/former athletes care only for money (looking at you David Beckham) but some like Meagan Rapinoe are political. It is up to the athlete to decide if they wanna be political. Taking the decision out of the hands of an athlete is cowardly!

3

le_frahg t1_ix8l3og wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#602,043)

It absolutely is the most beloved sports event in the West, though. Outside of America and Canada, who have their own things going on, the World Cup is like the holy grail for most countries.

69

throwaway481677 t1_ix8l7lb wrote

Replying to __ferg__ (#599,983)

The iranians are risking their safety and even lives once they go back to Iran, European teams were scared of their captain getting a yellow card even if it wasn't certain, literally cowards and PR is much more important to them

131

gideon513 t1_ix8la2s wrote

They should just wear black and white “no love” arm bands. We’d all know what it meant.

1

BradMarchandsNose t1_ix8lyai wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#602,087)

Europe is “the West.” It’s not necessarily about the geographic position, it’s a cultural thing. A place like Australia would also be considered “the West,” even though it’s not geographically.

56

[deleted] t1_ix8nxmz wrote

Replying to T1mberVVolf (#600,155)

This is a country that will torture and execute people. I don’t want anyone dying to “embarass” the Qatarian regime, for the sake of me and other lgbt+ people. If you’re going to risk your life and freedom it should be to deal an actual blow against the regime…

5

360dickpunch_2 t1_ix8nyy5 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#602,087)

Would you stop being a contrarian please? Over a billion people watched the previous World Cup final as it was happening. For once a reddit argument is actually objectively wrong and doesn’t require a thread long cat fight and yet here we are

21

PissedOffChef t1_ix8odxq wrote

Oh. God. No. I’m contacting my drunken senator stat.

−1

teabagmoustache t1_ix8oft8 wrote

Replying to Fishflakes24 (#601,304)

I suppose, I think calling their bluff would have paid off though. They were never going to send 6 European captains home, we'll probably never know what the actual sanctions would have been though.

2

DennisTheBald t1_ix8semi wrote

I don't quite get the connection to chicken strips. It's the sauce anyway - the chicken is pretty pedestrian

1

mkerugbyprop3 t1_ix8sxna wrote

Not so fast my friend.... Qatar banned them

1

abrandis t1_ix8tw2t wrote

Replying to eXistencial_v0iD (#601,353)

Exactly, FiFa has Qatar by the balls, they should let the players protest , what is the emirate going to do , arrest well known soccer players...

If FiFa wants to use soccer as a way to champion the good values of humanity it needs to grow a backbone and say and do the right thing... Qatar could of course threaten to cancel the whole thing but they won't...

7

ozas258 t1_ix8vup6 wrote

Oh wow it feels like as if those arbands were just pandering to woke people

6

Skim003 t1_ix8w9lq wrote

If they are doing this now. Imagine what it'll be like after Qatar is eliminated after they lose to Senegal. They'll "take their ball" and go home.

1

MoneyMoves- t1_ix8wfgg wrote

It’s soccer why the hell are we making this political and about sexuality

Like can people fuck off about this shit for once

0

Thialase t1_ix8xh74 wrote

pathetic spineless cowards.
I don't ever want to see these fuckers daring to say shit again. Their support has proven to be as fickle as the wind.

2

subliminimalist t1_ix90lng wrote

Replying to Dats_Russia (#602,048)

I don't disagree with anything you've written here, I just think that part of the reason we remember the examples you've given is because they stand out from the crowd.

And I agree that taking the decisions fully out of the hands of the athlete is a bad

0

goliathfasa t1_ix91jmy wrote

Replying to throwaway481677 (#602,077)

They should just never wear those armbands ever again, or any other clothing accessories that purported to stand up for one social cause or another.

Doing so in the safety of countries where advocacy of said causes are already largely accepted while shying away from doing so in places that actual need it means that the whole thing was worthless to begin with.

45

Nooms88 t1_ix92w5v wrote

Replying to JohnHwagi (#603,097)

If a player gets 2 yellow cards in 2 seperate matches they are suspended from the next game. So if they worse the band in both opening games they'd be suspended from the 3rd

10

Dioneo t1_ix960fx wrote

Can’t wait for the Fuck FIFA chants.

1

S-Markt t1_ix97y9f wrote

they did not only pick up the soap, while the fifa and the qatar-dictators stood behind them, they also brought the lubricant.

1

MaimedJester t1_ix9ass5 wrote

Replying to JohnHwagi (#603,097)

I remember when America made it out of group of Death and I was like well boys it was a good showing we made it group of 16 and we're gonna get our asses handed to us by...

Did Suarez just bite a player and will be banned from the next game? OMG United States male team might reach the Semi finals!

2

MaimedJester t1_ix9c2yz wrote

Replying to WPeachtreeSt (#604,129)

Like we knew Russia was bad, and in Brazil there were other huge problems, but Qatar might be the worst location on earth to host international attention outside like the DMZ between North and South Korea or the Gaza Strip.

I don't think Qatar could possibly be ready for when their cops beat a Chinese and Canadian man to death for holding hands in the street going to a match...

There's going to be a murder by Qatar cops about something most of the the world considers a minor offense like drunk in public. Yeah I'd be fine with Drunk in public guy getting escorted into a paddy wagon and paying a fine when he wakes up next morning.

Qatar will probably beat that man to death on the street and someone's gonna catch video of it and cause international incident with random German citizen being killed by Qatar cops over nothing.

8

warren54batman t1_ix9exol wrote

Shock of shocks. Those with power and money do nothing yet again.

1

S-Markt t1_ix9hoip wrote

yeah, great. if those football "heros" stop playing, they can still work as uvalde police officers.

1

Hammertime6689 t1_ix9rua1 wrote

Lol “Breaking”

This is where we are right now?

1

hummingbird_mywill t1_ix9vzj8 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#603,013)

The origin of “the West” terminology is 2000 years old, well before the rest of the world knew about the Americas. If you’re not aware of this I can see your confusion, but Europe has been the West for a looong time, and North America and Australia/New Zealand became considered extensions of that through colonization.

6

WalterMac201 t1_ixa11ug wrote

Hey Cedric, Bob, these guys don’t wanna wear the armband.

WHO?!! WHO DOESN’T WANT TO WEAR THE ARMBAND?!?!

1

GT1man t1_ixadw10 wrote

Cowards, or on the take as well.

1

GroundbreakingDot961 t1_ixafkle wrote

If you’re on a national stage and say a damn thing about what the fuck is going on you’re a fucking coward

1

hobokobo1028 t1_ixbfhdl wrote

What about the US? It’s not like we make money off soccer anyways….

1

Unlucky_Entrance_512 t1_ixblnb4 wrote

Replying to circumlocutious (#611,719)

You’re not wrong. Reform definitely needs to happen there as well. At least there is opposition to the Christian Nationalist movement and some not oft used but are being dusted off (according to another article on my Reddit news feed) methods of telling the court to go fouk itself.

1

AFew10_9TooMany t1_ixbo5zq wrote

If they had a spine this headline would read:

England, Germany and other European nations will not attend World Cup in Qatar...

1

HomegrownMike t1_ixbw7ik wrote

Would it be too insane if an idea to see this spark some new league, adjacent to FIFA that claims to be corrupt free and all about the things FIFA says they should be about?

1