Captains of National Teams Experience Discomfort with Loose Armbands
FIFA Expected to Produce and Distribute New Ones
On the 24th (Korean time), at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, during the first match of Group H in the 2022 Qatar World Cup between South Korea and Uruguay, Son Heung-min, wearing a mask and holding the captain's armband, is playing in the game. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The captain's armband is expected to be replaced at the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup. This measure comes after players wearing the existing armbands showed discomfort during matches.
At 10 PM Korean time on the 24th, during the first Group H match of the World Cup between South Korea and Uruguay held at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Son Heung-min started the game wearing a black protective face guard. This was due to a recent surgery for a fracture around his eye earlier this month, and he has not yet fully recovered.
The problem was with the armband worn on his arm as the team captain. During the match, Son repeatedly pulled up the slipping armband with his hand. The armband was too loose and did not stay properly fixed on his arm.
Although the armband was later replaced with a new one, the situation remained the same, and eventually Son had to play holding the armband in his hand. It is known that there is only one size of this armband and it cannot be adjusted.
On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, during the Group E match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between Germany and Japan, Germany captain Manuel Neuer is playing wearing the captain's armband. Photo by Yonhap News
The situation was similar for other teams. Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper and captain of the German national team, secured his armband with tape during the match against Japan on the 23rd. After the game, he said in an interview, "It was too loose and uncomfortable," adding, "I don't think it was made by a good manufacturer." Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team, also played the match against Ghana holding the armband in his hand like Son Heung-min.
Ultimately, FIFA decided to remake the armbands. According to Yonhap News on the 26th, a representative from the Korea Football Association stated, "We also expressed discomfort regarding the armband, and we understand that other teams raised the same issue." The South Korean team is scheduled to receive new armbands on the 27th, the day before their second group stage match against Ghana.
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