FIFA president Gianni Infantino says all sides have lessons to learn from the armband row at last year’s World Cup in Qatar and is confident there will be “a solution” in time for this year’s women’s finals in Australia and New Zealand.England and Wales were threatened with unlimited sporting sanctions on the day of their opening matches in Qatar if their captains Harry Kane and Gareth Bale wore the ‘OneLove’ anti-discrimination armbands, starting at a yellow card for the skippers.The bands are part of a wider year-long campaign which began last September, but would have sent out a particularly strong message in Qatar where same-sex relationships are criminalised.FIFA faced criticism for appearing to bow to local sensitivities, while the seven European nations competing in Qatar who had intended to wear the bands were criticised for backing down to FIFA’s threats.Infantino said at a press conference following the International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual general meeting in London: “We all went through a learning process. Bigwin
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says all sides have lessons to learn from the armband row at last year’s World Cup in Qatar and is confident there will be “a solution” in time for this year’s women’s finals in Australia and New Zealand.England and Wales were threatened with unlimited sporting sanctions on the day of their opening matches in Qatar if their captains Harry Kane and Gareth Bale wore the ‘OneLove’ anti-discrimination armbands, starting at a yellow card for the skippers.The bands are part of a wider year-long campaign which began last September, but would have sent out a particularly strong message in Qatar where same-sex relationships are criminalised.FIFA faced criticism for appearing to bow to local sensitivities, while the seven European nations competing in Qatar who had intended to wear the bands were criticised for backing down to FIFA’s threats.Infantino said at a press conference following the International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual general meeting in London: “We all went through a learning process. Jiliplay