Let's get the rant out of the way first.
The captains of seven European football teams in the world cup (Cwpan y Byd) were going to wear rainbow One Love armbands in their matches. The national football associations told FIFA this some time ago but now, just as the tournament is about to begin, FIFA has said players wearing an armband will face a booking and sending off, as well as financial penalties on the FA. As a result the national FAs have capitulated and the players are not wearing the armbands.
One tweet I saw suggested the captain, on being sent off, should hand the armband to the next player and so on. And if all the players in every team defied FIFA the competition would be in disarray and FIFA would surely have to back down.
All it would take is one player brave enough to defy his FA, risk losing the chance to play in the World Cup, and simply take a stand for others to follow suit. Or for David Beckham, who is allegedly being paid £10 million to be there, to wear an armband. And all the commentators.
How brave do you have to be? As another tweet, from Ben Shapiro, said in comparing the fake bravery of the Europeans, "Actual bravery: Iranian soccer players refusing to sing the anthem, and risking jail or worse."
Actually now I need to go and do something so I will leave my book talking for later.
2 comments:
It's a lot harder to maintain the courage of one's convictions when there is a real and tangible price to pay for them. Much easier when it's just a gesture without consequences. That's when people really have to search their hearts and consciences. Usually people only make the sacrifice when it's their own personal rights/freedoms at stake (and sometimes not even then, depending on the severity of the penalty). Rarely are such sacrifices made for allies.
This makes me angry beyond words. On so many levels. Beckham doesn't need the money. The footballers should be supported by their clubs. And who in the name of all things holy thought Qatar was a good place for the world cup.
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