Human rights are not negotiable. This is the message that Germany’s football team was sending loud and clear by covering their mouths in protest during their World Cup group E opener against Japan. The German players are protesting FIFA’s refusal to allow rainbow-themed armbands to be worn during the tournament in Qatar. The armbands would have been a symbolic protest against the country’s laws which make homosexuality illegal. Captains of seven European teams had initially planned to wear the anti-discrimination armbands but they backed down after FIFA threatened disciplinary action, including yellow cards.
This was a way of protesting FIFA’s refusal to allow rainbow-themed armbands. Critics have accused FIFA of hypocrisy, pointing out that the organization has been quick to penalize players for displays of political or religious beliefs, but has not taken any action against countries with poor human rights records. They argue that FIFA should use its platform to promote inclusion and diversity, rather than silence those who are trying to do so. This act of protest by the German team sends a strong message that discrimination of any kind is unacceptable. It is heartening to see that even in the face of possible punishment, they were willing to stand up for what they believe in. Hopefully this will lead to more open dialogue about the issue of discrimination and help create a more inclusive environment for all.