Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
By CIARÁN FAHEY, AP Sports Writer
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Germany’s players covered their mouths for their team photo before their opening World Cup match in an apparent rebuke of FIFA’s clampdown on plans to wear armbands to protest discrimination in host nation Qatar.
The team lined up in the traditional formation before Wednesday’s game against Japan and each of the 11 players covered their mouth with their right hand.
It seemed to be a response to FIFA’s warning to the seven European federations, including Germany’s, that players would be penalized if they wore colorful “One Love” armbands as a symbol for inclusion and diversity. The seven team captains had planned to wear the armbands.
Qatar has been under scrutiny for its human rights record and laws criminalizing homosexuality.
Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Ebrahim Noroozi
Players from Germany pose for the team photo as they cover their mouth during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Ebrahim Noroozi
Players from Germany pose for the team photo as they cover their mouth during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Eugene Hoshiko
Germany players put their hands on their mouths as they pose for a group photo prior to the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Eugene Hoshiko
Germany players put their hands on their mouths as they pose for a group photo prior to the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Ricardo Mazalan
Germany's soccer team players cover their mouth during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Ricardo Mazalan
Germany's soccer team players cover their mouth during the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Ricardo Mazalan
Germany's soccer team players cover their mouths as they pose for a group photo before the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Ricardo Mazalan
Germany's soccer team players cover their mouths as they pose for a group photo before the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest
Ricardo Mazalan
Many of Germany's soccer team players have rainbow colours on their boots as they pose for a team group before the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Ricardo Mazalan
Many of Germany's soccer team players have rainbow colours on their boots as they pose for a team group before the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Alessandra Tarantino - staff, AP
Fireworks explode over the Al Bayt Stadium before the start of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Alessandra Tarantino - staff, AP
Fireworks explode over the Al Bayt Stadium before the start of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador's players celebrate their 2-0 win after the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador's players celebrate their 2-0 win after the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Artists perform prior the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Artists perform prior the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Qatar's Pedro Miguel, left, challenges for the ball with Ecuador's Pervis Estupinan during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Qatar's Pedro Miguel, left, challenges for the ball with Ecuador's Pervis Estupinan during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia heads the ball to score his side's second goal during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia heads the ball to score his side's second goal during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Hassan Ammar - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia, centre, is fouled by Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, left, during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Hassan Ammar - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia, centre, is fouled by Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, left, during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Ariel Schalit - staff, AP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the World Cup, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Ariel Schalit - staff, AP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the World Cup, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
View of the fireworks at the Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony before the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
View of the fireworks at the Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony before the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Soccer’s governing body issued the warning Monday just hours before the first teams were set to play with their captain wearing the armband. FIFA said the players would immediately be shown a yellow card.
Germany coach Hansi Flick and soccer federation president Bernd Neuendorf were among those to criticize FIFA’s decision.
Neuendorf has called the warning “another low blow” from FIFA. The governing body hasn’t commented on Wednesday’s gesture by the Germans.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who is also responsible for sports, wore a “One Love” armband in the stands at the Germany-Japan game. Faeser tweeted a photo of herself wearing it with the hashtag #OneLove.
News agency DPA reported Faeser had the armband on under a pink blazer that she took off during the first half.
Faeser was sitting beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the game.
Earlier, Faeser criticized Qatar for forcing a German fan to remove a rainbow-colored armband and headband at another game.
“This is not in line with my understanding of the security guarantees that I was given by the (Qatari) interior minister,” Faeser said. “Security must apply to all people. I’m very disappointed about this.”
The rainbow flag is a widely used as a symbol of tolerance with regard to sexual diversity.
Faeser said in her opinion “such symbols should be openly shown.”
