Advertisement

Politics ‘finished’ for Germany at World Cup after protest against FIFA ban on ‘OneLove’ armband

Dan Kilpatrick
·2-min read
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Germany's Ilkay Gundogan says "the politics are finished" for his side in Qatar after they did not repeat their on-field protest ahead of last night's 1-1 World Cup draw with Spain.

The Germany players covered their mouths ahead of their defeat to Japan in protest at being "silenced" by FIFA - after the governing body threatened to sanction players who wore the rainbow-coloured 'OneLove' armband.

The German FA are considering legal action against FIFA, but Gundogan says it is time for the squad to focus on football, with Die Mannschaft needing to beat Costa Rica in their final group game to have any hope of reaching the knockouts.

“We had a few players who were mad with FIFA, because obviously there were things planned from the team,” Gundogan said at Al Bayt Stadium.

“[The armband] getting disallowed just before the game, a few players were disappointed and frustrated and wanted to show something.

Ilkay Gundogan says Germany have no plans to repeat their World Cup protest (REUTERS)
Ilkay Gundogan says Germany have no plans to repeat their World Cup protest (REUTERS)

"We had the discussion in the team and at the end it got decided that we’ll do this gesture against FIFA. If you do something, you do it as a team.

“Honestly, my point of view is now the politics are finished."

Qatari supporters in the crowd last night held up pictures of Mesut Ozil, the former German international, during the game to accuse the Germany team of hypocrisy.

Ozil, a Turkish-German Muslim, retired from the national team after the 2018 World Cup, accusing the federation of racism.

Gundogan added: “We are here now and I think Qatar is very proud. The country of Qatar is very proud to host the World Cup — also as the first Muslim country, and I come from a Muslim family, so the Muslim community is proud.

“Now it’s just about football – enjoying and celebrating – so that’s the most important thing.”

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar | Best Images and Moments

England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA (REUTERS)
England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA (REUTERS)
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark (REUTERS)
France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark (REUTERS)
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar (AP)
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar (AP)
Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, (AP)
Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, (AP)
Uruguay’s forward #21 Edinson Cavani (bottom) eyes the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doh (AFP via Getty Images)
Uruguay’s forward #21 Edinson Cavani (bottom) eyes the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doh (AFP via Getty Images)
A Ghana staff member takes selfie with despondent Heung-min Son after victory over South Korea (BBC)
A Ghana staff member takes selfie with despondent Heung-min Son after victory over South Korea (BBC)
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi collides with Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during theIR FIFA World Cup Group B match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan (PA)
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi collides with Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during theIR FIFA World Cup Group B match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan (PA)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal v Mexico (REUTERS)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal v Mexico (REUTERS)
Spain’s Alvaro Morata in action with Germany’s Nico Schlotterbeck (REUTERS)
Spain’s Alvaro Morata in action with Germany’s Nico Schlotterbeck (REUTERS)
Belgium’s goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois (R) conceides a goal shot by Morocco’s midfielder #11 Abdelhamid Sabiri (unseen) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
Belgium’s goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois (R) conceides a goal shot by Morocco’s midfielder #11 Abdelhamid Sabiri (unseen) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)

Substitute Alvaro Morata fired Spain in front just after the hour but Germany's own no9, Niclas Fullkrug, also came off the bench to score a precious equaliser.

Germany's hopes of reaching the last-16 had been given an unlikely lifeline earlier yesterday when Costa Rica beat Japan, but they still need to win their final group game and hope Japan do not spring another shock against Spain.

On the morning of the game, Spain head coach Luis Enrique revealed on social media that the game would carry extra significance because it would have been the 13th birthday of his daughter Xana, who died of cancer in 2019.

“It was a very special day for me and my family,” the 52-year-old said afterwards. “For a long time, we have tried to live the situation with all normality. Our daughter is not with us any more but she lives with us every day.”