Harry Kane will wear an anti-discrimination armband during England’s World Cup matches in Qatar.
The event will support the OneLove campaign to end discrimination. It will also include the participation of captains from nine other countries, including Wales. The tournament will take place this winter.
It will be especially poignant that they will wear the rainbow-coloured armband in Qatar where same-sex relations and promotion of such relationships are criminalized.
Kane, Three Lions captain, will be wearing the armband for first time in Friday night’s Nations League match against Italy.
The England Tottenham striker said: “I am honoured to join my fellow national team captains in supporting the important OneLove campaign.
“As captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination.
“This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society. Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching.”
The Football Association continues to seek more information on the assurances made by the local organizing committee that all fans, even those from the LGBTQ+ community will be welcomed, safe, and secure in Qatar.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said his organisation was also lobbying the game’s global governing body FIFA for an update regarding a compensation scheme for migrant workers in Qatar and the creation of a centre to help those workers access support.
“We continue to push for the principle of compensation for the families of migrant workers who have lost their lives or have been injured in construction projects,” he said.
“Again, we are pushing FIFA for an update on the compensation fund which has been consistently referenced as a safety net where workers and their families have been unable to secure compensation from the construction companies.”
The FA said a group of migrant workers had been invited to England’s World Cup training base at Al Wakrah to meet the players.
It follows calls by human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, for FIFA to set aside $440million (£388m) to support a compensation fund and help establish a migrant workers centre.
