England’s Harry Kane prepared to risk yellow card by wearing
England captain Harry Kane insists he is prepared to risk a yellow card by wearing the One Love armband in the Three Lions’ World Cup opener against Iran on Monday.
Nine nations have vowed to wear the armband in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are banned, but England are the first of those to take to the pitch in the tournament and could face punishment for the gesture.
“I feel we’ve made it clear as a team, as a staff and as an organisation that we want to wear the armband,” Kane said in a press conference on Sunday.
“I know the FA are talking to FIFA at the moment. I’m sure by game time tomorrow they’ll have their decision. We’ve made it clear that we want to wear it.”
Manager Gareth Southgate added: “There’s nothing I can add to what Harry has said, I know there are conversations going on, I think a number of European countries have spoken, we’ve made our position clear, hopefully, everything will be resolved before the game.”
England would rather receive a fine than a booking for Kane, who would be hit with an automatic one-match ban if he picks up two yellow cards.
Meanwhile, FIFA launched their own armband on the eve of the tournament in partnership with the United Nations, with the theme of the message to change with every round of matches.