The KNVB, along with six other football governing bodies, will not take FIFA to a sports tribunal over their controversial decision to ban the OneLove armband during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, VI reports.
The decision comes after representatives from Netherlands, Denmark, England, Wales, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany discussed the possibility of taking FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over their decision.
The original plan was for the captains of these national sides to lead their teams out wearing the OneLove armband instead of the FIFA-issued ones. All the governing bodies were prepared to pay the fines they were expected to be issued with during the tournament but made a u-turn when FIFA announced players seen wearing the armband will receive a yellow card before a ball has been kicked.
It is a decision that has not gone down well in the football world with many criticising FIFA’s controversial approach in the matter as well as announcing it at such short notice ahead of the tournament. The German national team made their view very clear just before their Group E opener against Japan by covering their mouths during the team photo just before kick-off, something Davy Klaassen has praised.
The OneLove armband is used to promote diversity and inclusion as part of an anti-discrimination campaign but the use of rainbow colours to support LGBTQIA+ communities conflicts with Qatar’s criminalisation of same-sex marriages.
FIFA released their own diversity and inclusion initiative without the use of rainbow colours.
GBeNeFN | Tom Phillips
