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Nov 22, 2022; Al Wakrah, Qatar; A general view of pre-game festivities at Al Janoub Stadium before a group stage match between France and Australia during the 2022 World Cup. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Germany taking FIFA to court over ban of 'OneLove' armband at World Cup

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 11/23/22

It appears Germany will do more than protest the FIFA ban on players wearing "OneLove" anti-discrimination armbands during the World Cup held in Qatar.

Sky Sports News reports that the German Football Association is taking FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding threats that players could receive yellow cards and even one-game bans for wearing the armband meant to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community at the World Cup. Additionally, Sky Sports says Germany captain Manuel Neuer was told to abandon plans to wear the rainbow armband for Wednesday's World Cup opener against Japan because the country could face "massive" sporting sanctions due to violating tournament rules. The exact nature of the sanctions hasn't been revealed.

If the Court of Arbitration for Sport quickly rules the ban is invalid, Neuer could wear the "OneLove" armband for Sunday's match against Spain.

German players silently protested ahead of Wednesday's kickoff by covering their mouths for the team photo a day after Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen raised eyebrows when he said players at the World Cup were "being controlled" as it pertains to what issues they can vocally and publicly address:

️ “A lot of people in Germany are concerned, they feel this World Cup shouldn’t be held in Qatar, they also feel that the German team shouldn’t be playing in this World Cup.”@SkyKaveh on the German protest against FIFA. #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/P6RtfqagVy
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 23, 2022

Japan rallied from behind to stun Germany 2-1.

"We wanted to use our captain's armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect," the German Football Association said in a statement. "Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.

"It wasn't about making a political statement - human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn't the case. That's why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position."

Following the loss to Japan, Germany head coach Hansi Flick said that the players "wanted to convey the message that FIFA is silencing us."

Same-sex relations are forbidden in Qatar, and the country's much-publicized human rights record and alleged treatment of migrant workers and members of the LGBTQ+ community have routinely generated headlines throughout the World Cup. Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich suggested Tuesday such outside noise was a distraction for players.

"It's not our fault where the World Cup takes place," Kimmich said at that time.

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