Top U.S. Diplomat Blinken Criticizes FIFA Armband Threat At World Cup

US diplomat criticizes FIFA for banning inclusion armbands

Just hours before the first players with the armbands in support of the “One Love” campaign were to take the field on Monday, soccer’s governing body warned they would immediately…

Blinken says ban on LGBTQ armbands at World Cup ‘concerning’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that FIFA’s ban on players wearing LGBTQ armbands during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is “concerning.”  “It’s always concerning from my perspective when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression. It’s especially so when the expression is for diversity and for inclusion,” Blinken said during…

Top US diplomat criticizes FIFA armband threat at World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — America’s top diplomat on Tuesday criticized a decision by FIFA to threaten players at the World Cup with yellow cards if they wear armbands supporting inclusion and diversity.Speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart at a news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “always concerning … when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression.”“It’s especially so when the expression is for diversity and fo…

U.S. secretary of state criticizes FIFA over LGBTQ armband ban at World Cup in Qatar

"It is always concerning when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression, especially when the expression is diversity," Anthony Blinken said.

Top US diplomat criticizes FIFA armband threat at World Cup

Speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart at a news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “always concerning ... when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression.”

Top US diplomat rips FIFA for punishing World Cup players who wear the 'One Love' armband promoting inclusion

"No one on a football pitch should be forced to choose between supporting these values and playing," Blinken said.