Currently wearing of non-FIFA approved armbands can result in disciplinary action against teams and their captains
During a World Cup planning workshop, the German Football Association has brought up the issue of players facing punishment if they wear anything other than FIFA-mandated armbands, and they want to prevent this from happening to players in Australia and New Zealand during the tournament in July and August.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) also discussed this matter during debriefs after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In December, the FA and England team managers were upset because the armband regulations could have resulted in penalties for players who did not comply with tournament rules.
Williamson asks FIFA to to imitate the UEFA in regards to LGBTQ+ support
A FIFA spokesperson has told Sky Sports “at a team workshop, FIFA was asked about equipment and competition regulations in relation to the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup. FIFA wishes to reiterate that no decision has been taken in relation to armbands. FIFA remains committed to ongoing dialogue with players and member associations.”
England captain Leah Williamson has expressed her wish to express solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community during the World Cup this summer and wore a rainbow armband while lifting the Euros trophy last year.
“Obviously, you hope it’s not a last-minute call once we get there but it’s something we want to do all year round and we’ve done previously,” she told reporters in February.
“The statement that was made at the Euros with every team participating was incredible, every picture we have with a trophy lift there’s a rainbow armband in there. It’s a great stage and a great time to promote the values we believe in so much, so I hope it’s the same.
“We’re never shy in saying what we stand for, we’re a squad that promotes inclusivity and equality, we obviously have a number of people that feel very strongly about it,” Williamson said.
“It’s not even a question for us, you’ve seen another men’s player step out and be as brave as they can be and they’ve changed their whole life. They don’t know what’s coming.
“So, for us to stand in solidarity with that is important to us but it’s something we’ve always done, it’s something we’ll continue to do. We’re not just impacting football, we’re trying to have a positive impact on society too and that’s one of the ways we can do that.”
