Sam Kerr expresses strong desire for Australian players to wear the prohibited OneLove armband at Women’s World Cup
Australia Captain Sam Kerr Expresses Support for LGBTQ+ Rights at Women’s World Cup
In a surprising turn of events, Australia’s national women’s football team captain, Sam Kerr, has voiced her support for LGBTQ+ rights by expressing her desire to wear the OneLove armband at the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
The use of these armbands was banned during the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year due to FIFA threatening players with bookings if they chose to wear them. However, despite this restriction, many teams around the world have expressed their interest and willingness to don such symbolic accessories as a form of solidarity.
Kerr stated that she is not alone in wanting to showcase support through wearing the OneLove armband:
“Like most teams worldwide, everyone has voiced that they would love to wear it,” said Kerr confidently.
This statement comes after team captains from several prominent nations including England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland Germany and Denmark had initially planned on sporting these significant armbands at the men’s competition held in Qatar but eventually decided against it due to FIFA threatening yellow cards for any player found wearing one.
Sam Kerr highlights concerns about risking Australia’s progression:
Kerr acknowledges that potential penalties like yellow cards can hinder both individual players and their respective teams during crucial matches. She references an incident involving Harry Kane from England who received a yellow card in his first game during the men’s tournament because he failed to adhere to the ban. Kerr emphasizes:
“It’s not worth the risk; putting the team at risk, putting the tournament at risk, putting everything at risk.”
Co-hosting this year’s Women’s World Cup with New Zealand, Australia cannot afford to jeopardize their chances of advancing further in the competition due to unnecessary distractions or penalties. Nonetheless, Kerr remains optimistic about utilizing her platform for future opportunities where she can vocalize her support for various causes.
FIFA sanctions alternative armbands promoting social messages:
To reconcile conflicting interests and promote inclusive values during major tournaments like the Women’s World Cup, FIFA has introduced a range of sanctioned armbands that bear different social messages. These officially approved alternatives allow teams to choose from eight different options encompassing themes such as gender equality and combating domestic violence.
Captains have three choices: they can either wear an armband proclaiming “Football Unites the World” throughout the tournament or select one specific to each matchday theme.
England midfielder Georgia Stanway affirms team unity and support:
Georgia Stanway from England expressed gratitude towards their manager Sarina Wiegman for allowing players’ individual opinions on matters like wearing symbolic armbands. She highlights how united their team is regarding these decisions:
“I feel that we are at a place where everybody can have their individual opinion and we are able to fight for what we believe in,” said Stanway confidently.
The statement also emphasizes Coach Sarina Wiegman’s unwavering support behind her players’ collective decisions while maintaining inclusivity within their squad.