England players were forced to improvise a plan to take the knee during their World Cup fixtures after FIFA refused to accommodate their protest.
The Three Lions had promised to fulfil their anti-discrimination gesture before all their fixtures, however, their vow was made difficult due to FIFA’s kick-off protocols.
Apart from Wales, who also took the knee as a show of solidarity in their group clash, England were the only team to go through with the protest at Qatar.
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The Daily Mail reports that the English national team were forced into coming up with a makeshift plan after FIFA refuses to alter their own procedures.
Usually when footballers take the stance in England, the referee will prompt those taking part with a first whistle, before blowing a second to signal the start of 90 minutes.
However, FIFA made it clear to Gareth Southgate’s men that no additional whistles would be sounded to give them time to make the protest.
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The publication says the players met to hatch out a plan to ensure they could still fulfil their vow without jeopardising the beginning of their games.
The players agreed to use the stadium countdown as an indicator of when to get down on their knee, with captain Harry Kane being the first to do so, with others following.
The World Cup quarter-finalist were insistent that they go through with the gesture of inclusivity, particularly after Qatar officials outlawed the ‘OneLove’ armbands.
Kane had been wearing the ‘OneLove’ captain armband in English fixtures prior to the World Cup as a means to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
The captains of England, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Wales and the Netherlands planned to wear the armband at the World Cup in Qatar.
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The OneLove armband was aimed to promote LGBT+ rights and send a strong stance against discrimination, with homosexuality illegal in a country like Qatar.
However, World Cup organisers FIFA issued a stern warning that players who wear the OneLove armband could receive a yellow card from referees.
In a statement, the FA said: “We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
“However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.
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“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented -- we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed -- they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
As such, the players were even more determined to go through with taking a knee throughout the tournament.
Players in the Premier League have not taken the knee for the vast majority of the domestic season in contrast to previous seasons.
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There are plans to undertake the gesture on ‘special’ fixtures such as the Boxing Day fixture.
Featured Image Credit: REUTERS / Alamy.Topics: England, Football World Cup, FIFA, Qatar, Harry Kane, Gareth Southgate