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Sports minister to defy Fifa by wearing OneLove armband at England vs Wales

Harry Kane - Marco Bertorello/AFP
Harry Kane - Marco Bertorello/AFP

Britain’s sports minister will risk the wrath of World Cup hosts Qatar by wearing a OneLove armband during England's match with Wales.

Stuart Andrew will also defy tournament organisers Fifa by donning the gay rights slogan when he attends Tuesday’s crunch clash.

Football’s governing body sparked fury by banning the captains of seven European nations from taking to the pitch with the armbands on.

It threatened to issue yellow cards to any player who defied the edict, meaning they would risk being suspended for key games.

Instead, senior political figures from Germany, Belgium and Denmark have worn them in protest while watching on from the stands.

'Spotlight on Qatar now'

Mr Andrew - who is the UK’s first openly gay sports minister - will follow suit, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport confirmed.

He accused Fifa of putting players in an “impossible position” and said the organisation had “serious questions to answer” about its stance.

“Two weeks ago they wrote to everybody to say just concentrate on the football and don’t do the politics,” he told the Evening Standard.

“Then they say you can’t wear the armband, but you can wear ours. I’m sorry, that is just not an acceptable position. It’s not sustainable.”

Mr Andrew also added his voice to calls for countries’ human rights records to be taken into account when the World Cup is awarded in future.

“There is a spotlight on Qatar now and that is a spotlight that we should not let go out as soon as the tournament is over,” he said.

“I really hope that Fifa will have a long, hard look at the criteria that are needed for nations to host such tournaments.

“Clearly, I would have thought their ambition would be for everybody to want to enjoy the games and make them the most successful ever.”

Fifa banned OneLove armbands on the eve of the tournament, citing its rules on “political, religious or personal messages or slogans”.

The organisation brought forward its own awareness campaign and said captains could wear ones that say “no discrimination” instead.

Gianni Infantino, its president, defended the decision in a press conference and accused the West of “hypocrisy” for lecturing Qatar.

But players, fans and football associations have fought back.

Germany’s players protested at being "silenced" by covering their mouths for the traditional team photo before their opening game against Japan.

German players cover their mouths in protest during the World Cup in Qatar - Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images
German players cover their mouths in protest during the World Cup in Qatar - Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to three years in prison, though the country has insisted “everyone is welcome” at the World Cup.

The Middle Eastern country was a highly controversial choice to host the tournament given its record on human rights.

But the government in Doha has bristled at criticism from other nations, including Britain.

Hassan Al-Thawadi, its World Cup chief, said BBC coverage which has highlighted abuses in the country was “very racist”.