Manuel Neuer wears 'One Love' armband despite FIFA warnings
Despite warnings of sanctions from FIFA, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer decided to wear the 'One Love' armband during the Germany vs. Japan match in Group E. Additionally, he will start the match with a yellow card and will have to pay a fine for this act.
Previously, it had been confirmed that the captains of England, Wales, Denmark, Netherlands, and Switzerland would also wear these colors. However, the players decided to give up after receiving a warning from FIFA.
Manuel Neuer decided to wear the One Love armband.
"We were prepared to pay fines that are normally applied to violations related to attire and we had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However, we cannot put our players in a situation where they are cautioned or even forced to leave the field," the teams stated in a statement.
"We are very frustrated by FIFA's decision, as we consider it to be unprecedented," the football associations emphasized.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Neuer has spoken out in support of the LGBTI community. Previously, the footballer stated that "it would be good if more professional footballers come out of the closet, as it would help others do the same."