The captain of the German national soccer team is to wear an armband in black, red and gold again in the future – the DFB team should refrain from socio-political symbols after the discussion about the “One Love” armband at the soccer World Cup in Qatar.
National coach Hansi Flick, captain Joshua Kimmich, the new sports director Rudi Völler and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf have agreed on this approach, the association said, according to the DPA news agency.
“I said everything about it. It shouldn’t be the case that these things are the focus again, the team should just play football. They should play football well, that’s their job. We agree on that,” said Flick in Frankfurt am Main before the friendly against Peru on Saturday (8.45 p.m. on ZDF and in the stern ticker).
The regulation should apply until the European Championships at home next year. During the tournament, Uefa determines how the team captains will be identified.
With the decision, the DFB hopes to be able to draw a line under the debate about the Winter World Cup. The German national team – like other teams – had planned to let their captain Manuel Neuer play with an armband with the words “One Love” as a sign of tolerance for all forms of life and love. Fifa had forbidden this, the DFB bowed to the ban. The appearances of the German eleven were then overshadowed by extensive discussions on the subject.
The DFB emphasized that black, red and gold stand for “democratic values, for diversity, respect and community” and protested against the colors being appropriated by excluding, nationalistic or intolerant forces.
Sources: DFB, DPA news agency
