World Cup: Germany criticised for protest gesture against Fifa decision to ban One Love armbands

Germany is facing criticism on social media after its football players covered their mouths in protest before the Germany-Japan match on Wednesday, after Fifa threatened to penalise players with a yellow card if they wore the One Love armband.

The One Love armband contains a rainbow motif and is seen as a symbol of support for LGBTQ+ communities. Fifa has generally banned any form of political messaging on players’ attire, although it has made exceptions in the past.

While some praised Germany’s gesture, Belgium captain Eden Hazard criticised the move, saying players should focus on football instead of political messages.

Users on social media accused the German side of “hypocrisy” as they recalled how the German football association failed to stand by German-Turkish player Mesut Ozil when he was targeted by a racist hate campaign after sharing a picture with Turkish President Erdogan on social media, eventually leading to Ozil’s resignation from Germany’s national team.

[kidzzworld]

Haha..now cover your faces after losing to Japan

[lsc]

I love Japan 🇯🇵 polite and manners also cleaned after beating Germany match what an inspiration the west can learn a lot with their hypocrisy free Palestine they will never speak against Israel

[mostlyblueskies]

Germany : one love
Japan : one - two

[gulbarchyndjekshen]

Anyway well done to Japan, who shut their mouth👏👏

[lunafringe]

Well, they lost the game. KATARIS we’re laughing 😂😂

[kenkaneki]

And I used to support Germany in previous world cups. I was an absolute idi-ot. They bring politics and scolded Ozil when he took a picture with Erdogan.. Their hypocrisy is sickening.

[meenaasghar]

Germany players must have no issues with Western wars all over the world....! Hypocrisy supremos

[speakersoftheoppressed]

LGBT is against Islam, you need to respect that and also why do you need to mix lgbt with football anyway?

[poppyflorist]

Divided by borders, United by rectal penetration

[hadispujianto]

Go Home 🇩🇪, keep your sin at your home

[Aman_Hanbali]

Germany’s audacity to speak about Human right🤦🏽‍♂️ how quickly they tend to forget history 😂

[nooneisreadyforthetruth]

German players were banned from using sashes which had "One Love" by Qatar fifa officials, so the put their hand on their mouths during an official photoshoot.
They didn't do this at all when they were playing in China nor Russia, even when those two countries also had laws against
LGBT movement.
Also when German player Mesut Ozil tried to speak about the Uyghur plight or when he received racist remarks, nobody tried to defend him from attacks even though he was part of the team.
It shows how Germany is hypocritical

[globetrotternews]

It is a sporting event. Keep politics and social issue out of it. Tolerance and respect goes both ways. What about our rights. The 7 percent should not be imposing their lifestyle on the 93 percent. Keep sex in the bedroom where it belongs.

[nobody.]

Germany, amongst the most destructive nations on earth, is giving lessons on morality .

[kiberadini]

Japan silenced them in the pitch like real men

[MTK]

Germany will hopefully be soon eliminated. They wont go pass group stage.

[AB-ovzm]

Muslim players should protest europe every time they go there

[SamSam-rrxt]

They cover their mouth and Allah silence them. Alhamdulilah

[Bombastic.S]

They are leaving Qatar with their mouth closed.

[travelhikecapture]

Western countries should educate themselves, by knowing there are many other cultures exist in the world! When they visit other countries and other cultures know to respect them! They are not the boss of the world