FIFA will allow messages from social causes at the World Cup – 06/30/2023 – Sport

The captains of the 32 teams that will compete in this year’s Women’s World Cup, in Australia and New Zealand, will be able to wear armbands with messages in favor of social causes, such as inclusion, gender equality and the fight against hunger and domestic violence.

The permission confirmed by Fifa this Friday (30) reverses a widely criticized policy during the Men’s World Cup, in 2022, in Qatar, when the entity threatened to punish teams and athletes that used props with the phrase “One Love” (” One Love”), with the colors of the rainbow, in favor of the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community. In the country that hosted the last World Cup, being gay is illegal.

In all, 10 of the 32 teams that competed in the Cup intended to wear the armband, but were warned that this could result in punishments such as yellow cards for athletes. At the World Cup, with two accumulated cards, a player must already serve a suspension game.

In March, FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledged he had learned from the public outcry and online scorn he had received over Qatar’s ban on rainbow armbands.

“All of us go through a learning process”, stated the director. This Friday, he said that football unites the world, “but it does even more than that by being able to put the spotlight on very important causes in our society”.

In Australia and New Zealand, players will be able to choose between eight different themes that are part of the campaign “Football unites the world”, launched by FIFA.

According to the entity, the themes were chosen together with national federations, athletes and UN agencies (United Nations).

The messages will also be disseminated in the stadiums through digital panels next to the lawns, flags displayed on the field, giant screens in the stadiums and on social networks.

“We are committed to using the power of football as a force for good. Together we can make a difference,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

The available armbands contain the following messages: “United for Inclusion”, “United for Indigenous Peoples”, “United for Gender Equality”, “United for Education for All”, “United against Hunger”, “United to End Violence Against Women”, “Football is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope and Passion” and “United for Peace”.

On social networks, players from several women’s national teams that will compete in the Cup spoke about their intentions to highlight the support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Some teams already wear rainbow armbands to many of their matches, while other players and teams have worn armbands and bracelets in the past to highlight issues such as sexual abuse, gender equality and gun control.

According to FIFA, the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is expected to attract an estimated audience of over two billion people worldwide, “providing an ideal platform to raise awareness of important social issues.”