Women’s World Cup 2023: FIFA blocks captains from wearing rainbow pride armbands
Captains will be allowed to wear one of eight approved armbands at this Women’s World Cup – but one won’t be in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FIFA will allow a range of approved coloured captain’s armbands to be worn at the Women’s World Cup – but none that show support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The decision was made in consultation with all 32 competing nations.
Captains will be permitted to wear one of eight bands that promote several social issues including human rights, indigenous rights, gender equality, peace, zero hunger, ending violence against women or a band that reads Football is joy, peace, love, hope and passion.
A rainbow or pride armband, used to promote the LGBTQIA+ community, is not on the list of approved bands.
There was public outcry when FIFA threatened to give yellow cards to captains that sported the rainbow “One Love” armbands during the Men’s World Cup in Qatar last year.
FIFA have tried to dodge the controversary at this tournament approving the use of a white band with an artistic rainbow heart and the words “unite for inclusion”.
FIFA Secretary-general Fatma Samoura said football was about more than just scoring goals. “It’s not just about what happens on the pitch,” she said.
“We are committed to using football’s power as a force for good and leveraging our partnerships with United Nations agencies to achieve our goals.”
Each message will be promoted via the team captains’ armbands, pitchside digital LED boards, large flags presented on the pitch, giant screens in stadiums and via social media.
With regard to the armbands, team captains will be given three options: they can wear the “Football Unites the World” armband for the entire tournament; an armband corresponding to the theme of their choice for the entire tournament; or the armband corresponding to the theme of the specific matchday.
In addition, the tournament will also feature activations for other long-term campaigns, namely #BeActive, in partnership with the WHO, and #NoDiscrimination which aims to take direct action to tackle all forms of discrimination, including racism, in society.
BIG NAMES MISS OUT
While injury is the main reason so many big name stars will be missing in action this FIFA Women’s World Cup, a rise in talent means some fan favourites, such as USA’s Sam Coffey or Italian captain Sara Gama, won’t be on a plane to Australia this month.
It can be seen as good news for the Matildas’ who are also likely to be without several experienced players with Kyah Simon and Chloe Logarzo still under an injury cloud.
Coaches have until July 9 to submit their final 23-women squad lists to FIFA for this month’s World Cup but several nations have gotten in early to increase preparation time.
The Matildas will name their 23-player squad on Monday.
Italy’s coach Milena Berolini had a tough job picking his top players, ultimately deciding to leave long-time captain Gama out of the squad.
Gama, 34, has 126 appearances for the national team and played a vital role in helping the side to the quarterfinal at the 2019 World Cup.
Berolini said the call was based on “technical-tactical and physical” reasons.
USA women’s coach Vlatko Andonovski has made some interesting decisions in his team – one of the biggest snubs was that of Coffey.
The 24-year-old is a rising box-to-box midfielder who had an incredible season with Portland Thorns. With Rose Lavelle injured many were sure Coffey would be a perfect back-up option but Andonovski instead tagged in uncapped Savannah DeMelo.
US defender Tierna Davidson has also missed a spot with Andonovski choosing to bring just two specialist centre backs to Australia. A harsh call for Davidson who battled back from an ACL injury to be fit for the tournament.
Injury, mainly knee and ACL tears have ruled close to 10 top tier players out of the Cup – including three from England’s side; Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby.
Spain’s national team was gutted when 15 players wrote a letter to the association ruling themselves out of selection, claiming the culture within the team had affected their mental health.
Just three of those 15 players Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona and Manchester United’s Ona Batlle were called up to the extended World Cup squad.
Champions League winners Patri Guijarro, Mapi León and Sandra Paños were not included.
Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, considered in doubt after tearing her ACL, has been named in the preliminary squad, despite her lack of game time.
ACL tears also leave the Netherlands without super striker Vivianne Miedema, New Zealand without Katie Rood and Canada without Janine Beckie.
NEW PATH
Former Matilda Indiah-Paige Riley has earned her first World Cup call up with the Football Ferns. While Riley honed her skills in Queensland she was born in New Zealand. Paige made her W-League debut when she was just 16 and earned her first Matildas game in 2021. She made the decision to play for the Kiwis in 2022.
Paige is one of 10 players in the Football Ferns side set to play at their first World Cup this year
The Kiwis have competed in five World Cups and never registered a win.
New Zealand will play Norway on July 20 at Eden Park.
FOOTBALL GREAT NAMED
Brazilian captain Marta has made the cut for her sixth World Cup.
Regarded as one of the best women’s footballers, the 37-year-old striker has scored 115 goals for her country, 17 of them at a World Cup.
She will lead a young and inexperienced side with 11 players in the squad yet to play at a World Cup.
Brazil are in Group F and will face off against France, Panama and Jamaica.
More Coverage
Originally published as Women’s World Cup 2023: FIFA blocks captains from wearing rainbow pride armbands
Sam Kerr’s nan ‘revived herself’, court
A driver who allegedly hit Sam Kerr’s nan with a car as she was getting off a bus told a court he “killed the lady, but she revived herself.”
Kerr question Matildas coach won’t answer
The interim Matildas coach was peppered with questions about Sam Kerr and her future on Tuesday and didn’t have a lot of answers.