Why FIFA banned LGBTQ arm bands at World Cup’s opening matches

Several World Cup teams announced that they had planning an on field show of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The captains, who included Harry Kane from England and Virgil Van Dijk from The Netherlands, were going to wear “One Love” arm bands during their opening matches of the World Cup.

The “OneLove” campaign started in the Netherlands with the goal of promoting inclusion and diversity in the sport.

The bands are a protest against Qatar’s laws which prohibit sexual acts of homosexuality in the host nation of Qatar. The punishment for these acts under Sharia Law is up to 3 years in prison along with possible fine. No cases have been reported where anyone was sentenced to death for this offence.

FIFA said prior to the tournament that players who wore the band would be yellow carded. If a player is yellow carded twice within one game, they will be sent off and will face a suspension.

“For FIFA final competitions, the captain of each team must wear the captain’s armband provided by FIFA,” FIFA’s equipment regulations state, according to The Canadian Press.

The armband was deemed to be in breach of World Cup regulations and FIFA’s general rules on team equipment at its games.

FIFA announced a comprise and will allow captains of all 32 teams to wear an armband with the slogan “No Discrimination” in their group games.