Germany captain Kimmich regrets political stance at World Cup Qatar 2022
Al Jazeera
Joshua Kimmich says the national team’s 2022 protest of the ban on pro-LGBTQ+ armbands at World Cup wasn’t a good image.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich says he regrets the political stance the nation’s football team took at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
On November 23, 2022, the German players posed for a team picture with their hands over their mouths in the Qatari capital, Doha, before their opening group match against Japan to signify their protest at FIFA, world football’s governing body, which had threatened sanctions against players wearing armbands in support of political causes at the tournament.
Six other European teams, alongside Germany, planned to wear ‘OneLove’ armbands supporting diversity and tolerance, in reference to homosexuality being illegal in Qatar, but backed down following the threat of disciplinary action.
“In general, us players should stand for specific values, especially as the captain of the national team. But it is not our job to express ourselves politically all the time,” Kimmich said at a news conference on Wednesday evening before Germany’s UEFA Nations match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Look at the issue of Qatar. We did not present an overall good picture as a team and country. We expressed political opinions and it took a bit away from the joy of the tournament. It was an outstanding World Cup in terms of organisation.”
