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Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has hit again at criticism accusing European groups on the World Cup of getting no “spine” after they determined towards sporting the OneLove armband.
The captains of seven nations, together with England and Wales, deliberate to put on the armband throughout matches to advertise variety and inclusion.
However the plans have been dropped due to Fifa’s risk of gamers being booked.
The captains are as an alternative sporting Fifa-approved ‘No Discrimination’ armbands.
“I play ready the place a yellow card shouldn’t be helpful. I turned a soccer participant and I wish to play these form of tournaments,” Van Dijk instructed Dutch broadcaster NOS.
Talking after the Netherlands’ 2-0 win over Senegal on Monday, the Liverpool centre-back stated: “There are individuals who say we do not have a spine, however that is not the way it works.
“We simply wish to play soccer. I might have beloved to play with that band, however not on the expense of a yellow card.”
The Netherlands started the OneLove marketing campaign earlier than Euro 2020 to advertise variety and inclusion, and as a message towards discrimination.
Similar-sex relationships and the promotion of same-sex relationships are criminalised in Qatar.
In an announcement on Monday, the seven European nations – additionally together with Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland – stated they have been keen to pay fines for his or her captains sporting the armband however couldn’t put their gamers prone to being booked.
Talking after the 6-2 opening win over Iran, England skipper Harry Kane stated he was “disillusioned” about not having the ability to put on the armband, whereas team-mate Jack Grealish stated the choice was “a bit silly”.
On Tuesday, Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen stated he didn’t really feel snug speaking concerning the topic for concern of repercussion.
“When you make an announcement by sporting the armband that may imply punishing your self,” Vertonghen stated earlier than his facet’s opening World Cup match towards Canada on Wednesday.
“I do not really feel snug, and that’s telling sufficient. We’re placed on the spot, and I’m afraid that if I say one thing about this, I won’t be capable of play [on Wednesday] and that could be a scenario I’ve by no means, ever skilled in soccer, and I hope I’ll by no means, ever must expertise once more as a result of it isn’t good.”
Nations confronted with ‘excessive blackmail’
Additionally on Tuesday, the media director of the German soccer federation (DFB), Steffen Simon, stated the seven nations have been confronted with “excessive blackmail”, main them to drop their OneLove armband plans.
He instructed German Deutschlandfunk radio: “The match director went to the English crew and talked about a number of rule violations and threatened huge sporting sanctions with out specifying what these can be.”
Simon stated the opposite six groups then determined to “present solidarity” with England.
“We have been in an excessive scenario, in an excessive blackmail and we thought we needed to take that call with out wanting to take action,” he stated, later including: “I can perceive the frustration. We had the selection between the plague and cholera.”
In Germany, grocery store chain Rewe has suspended its promoting cope with the DFB in a bid to distance itself from Fifa.
Rewe had already instructed the DFB in October it was ending its partnership however has now carried out so “with instant impact” due to Fifa’s “unacceptable scandalous perspective”.
“We get up for variety – and soccer can be variety. We dwell this place and we defend it,” stated Rewe Group chief govt Lionel Souque.
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