French Prime Minister Expresses Support for 'Rainbow Armband' During Visit to Germany

Born: "It's good for players to express shared values"
German and English Football Associations consider filing FIFA complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport

Elisabeth Borne (left), Prime Minister of France, is holding a press conference with Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, in Berlin, Germany, on the 25th (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Elisabeth Borne, the Prime Minister of France, who visited Germany, indirectly expressed support for the recent controversy over wearing rainbow armbands by stating that football players should be allowed to express the values they pursue.

According to AFP on the 25th (local time), Prime Minister Borne expressed this opinion during a joint press conference after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Germany. Borne said, "There are rules about what happens on the field, but it is good for players to be able to express values that we fully and clearly share." This statement relates to the recent issue of FIFA banning the wearing of the 'One Love' armband during the Qatar World Cup matches. The One Love armband is filled with rainbow colors and features the number 1 inside a heart, symbolizing opposition to various discriminations including those against sexual minorities and promoting unity.

Initially, captains of seven European national teams including Germany and England intended to wear the rainbow armband during matches despite FIFA regulations stating that equipment used by players must not contain political or religious messages or images, even if it meant paying fines. However, when FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards instead of fines, they ultimately gave up wearing the armbands.

Subsequently, the German national team protested the ban on wearing the rainbow armband by collectively covering their mouths with their right hands during the Best 11 group photo on the ground before their first Group E match against Japan on the 23rd. Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Minister of the Interior, wore the rainbow armband in place of the players and greeted FIFA President Gianni Infantino before watching Germany’s match. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib also wore the same armband when meeting President Infantino on the 23rd.

Haja Rabib, Belgian Foreign Minister wearing the 'One Love' armband (right), is having a conversation with Gianni Infantino, FIFA President (left), on the 23rd (local time) at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the 'rainbow armband' may escalate to legal proceedings. According to Germany’s Bild and the UK’s Daily Telegraph on the 24th, the German Football Association and the English Football Association are considering filing a complaint against FIFA with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the sanctioning of the rainbow armband at the Qatar World Cup finals. A spokesperson for the German Football Association criticized FIFA, saying, "FIFA banned expressions of diversity and human rights and threatened sporting sanctions without sufficient explanation."

Sporting sanctions refer to FIFA’s actions to restrict a player’s status or transfers according to its own regulations. The English Football Association also stated that it is seriously discussing whether to file a lawsuit for the same reasons. Moreover, the English Football Association is particularly upset that FIFA suddenly changed its stance after giving no response when England captain Harry Kane inquired about the possibility of wearing the armband two months ago.

CAS, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, is an independent body not supervised by any organization and serves as a special court that adjudicates sports disputes inside and outside the field. CAS adjusts the speed of hearings depending on the urgency of the matter, so if a complaint is actually filed, there is a possibility that a decision regarding the wearing of the rainbow armband could be made during the current World Cup tournament.