AL-RUWAIS, Qatar (AP) ā German soccer federation president Bernd Neuendorf has criticized FIFA for its attempts to restrict national teamsā political activities when it comes to human rights.
Speaking at Germanyās first news conference in Qatar ahead of the World Cup, Neuendorf said on Friday he was particularly annoyed by FIFA president Gianni Infantinoās letter two weeks ago urging teams to āfocus on the footballā and leave political issues aside.
āThat the topic of human rights should now no longer play a role, that we are now concentrating here on football only, that irritated us to a certain extent and disturbed us,ā Neuendorf said.
He added the federation had to send a signal to show it will not be silenced.
Neuendorf also referred to FIFAās decision to ban the Denmark team from bearing the slogan āHuman Rights For Allā on training jerseys.
āThat was declared as a political statement and therefore prohibited,ā Neuendorf said. āWeāre not talking about a political decision that can be made one way or the other with a slogan like āHuman Rights For All.ā Itās about human rights. And human rights are universal and binding all over the world.ā
Neuendorf said Germany was cooperating with other European federations who want their captains to wear an armband with a rainbow heart design during World Cup games to protest against discrimination.
āItās not a political statement, because itās a statement for human rights,ā said Neuendorf, who added if it was banned, āI would be quite prepared to accept a fine as well.ā
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