FIFA World Cup: Germany Players Cover Their Mouths Ahead Of Match Against Japan. Here Is Why

FIFA WC 2022 Qatar: Captains of seven European teams had planned to wear the anti-discrimination armbands.

Amid the row over FIFA's threat of sanctions over the "OneLove" armband, Germany team covered their mouths in their team photo in protest for FIFA’s ban of the ‘OneLove’ armband before their World Cup opener against Japan, reported news agency AFP. Ahead of kickoff, all Germany players made the gesture in front of dozens of photographers on the field. 

Earlier, Captains of seven European nations stepped back from wearing the 'One Love' armband in Qatar World Cup 2022 after FIFA threatened of imposing sporting sanctions. FIFA has officially refused to sanction the use of 'One Love' armband, which was first initiated by the Dutch FA in 2020 as a campaign in support of LGBTQ+.

Although, the armband represents support for equality and it's not only at backing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, but is significant in Qatar, as homosexuality is illegal.

England's Harry Kane was due to be the first captain to wear the armband in the World Cup in their opening match against Iran on Monday. However, in a joint statement the football associations of England, Wales, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland said, "We cannot put our players in a situation where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.

"We were even prepared pay the fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a commitment to wearing the armbands. However, we cannot put our players in a situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play." 

"We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented," the joint statement by the European nations further said. 

The armband features a heart design containing rainbow (VIBGYOR) colours, which the Dutch FA said is to intend "inclusiveness". Besides, words 'one' and 'love' are written in black on either side of a white "1" that stands in mid of the heart shape of the band.