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[EastUpperDK82]

Just out... live presser from Denmark.

The Danish Football Association rages against FIFA after they have not been allowed to wear the captain's armband without being punished.

The Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU) is decidedly enraged by FIFA's actions in the case surrounding the One Love captain's armband.

- The situation we are in is quite simply extraordinary. I have never experienced anything like it. I'm not just disappointed, I'm angry. I have been involved since 1998. It is completely unacceptable what we have to experience at various meetings, press conferences. Racism, hypocrisy and so on, says DBU chairman Jesper Møller at a press conference.

I can say that Denmark is not among the 207 countries that have signed a declaration of support

- But to put our players in a situation so shortly before an opening game. It is completely unacceptable and deeply reprehensible

- After the meeting today with the other countries in the same situation, we have to react to it. We will come to that together with the other countries, because we have this in common. We are all puzzled and disagree that we cannot be allowed to use the captain's armband. We probably won't change the Laws of the Game much, but we need to clarify its interpretation. We will get that at the legal level. It is already being worked on.

Jesper Møller goes on to say that Denmark is leaving Germany to investigate the legal matters, and the chairman says that it is not about the International Court of Sports (CAS).

Dansk Boldspil-Union will not sign a declaration of support for the re-election of Gianni Infantino as president of FIFA. He says that it is not a new decision.

- We have a political situation where there are presidential elections at the next congress. There are 211 countries in FIFA and I understand that the president has statements of support from 207 countries. I can say that Denmark is not among the 207 countries that have signed a declaration of support. Nor will we be.

The DBU chairman himself met with the FIFA president on Tuesday in connection with Denmark's World Cup match against Tunisia. In their exchange of views, it emerged that the two football managers do not share a point of view on a number of key issues.

The press conference came after DBU have been criticized for ditching the One Love captain's armband as the International Football Confederation threatened consequences.

****************

A yellow card was the least punishment the captains of seven World Cup nations could face if they had worn a captain's armband from the One Love campaign.

This is what the Dansk Boldspil-Union's (DBU) director, Jakob Jensen, says at an extraordinary press conference on Wednesday

Denmark, like the six other nations, failed to wear the captain's armband with the anti-discrimination message at the first match during the World Cup in Qatar, after the International Football Association (FIFA) threatened with sporting sanctions.

- 21 November Fifa asked for an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. Fifa came to England's hotel and here Fifa made it clear that there would be sporting sanctions if anyone wore the armband. There would be at least a yellow card, he says.

There has been talk about whether the referees could even issue warnings with reference to the football law, but the DBU director calls that doubt to the ground.

- There is authority in Laws of The Game article 4 to give a yellow card. Anyone carrying equipment that is not permitted will be penalized. It could have been a yellow card, a captain who was not allowed on the pitch, or a suspension, says Jakob Jensen from DBU.

 

[Atomic Blonde]

She's a woman in Qatar openly supporting LGBTQ+, that's pretty risky.

Yep, and she's actually openly part of the LGBTQ community as she has spoken about having had relationships with women. Even more risky for her.

 

[noggen]

How on earth can Infantino have support from 207 out of 211 countries for the next election??

 

[yawa]

How on earth can Infantino have support from 207 out of 211 countries for the next election??

Watch the Netflix documentary - $$$$$$

 

[noggen]

Watch the Netflix documentary - $$$$$$

Let’s hope more countries now can grow some balls like the Danish.
Bring Lise Klaveness in as a candidate against Infantino. She’ll tear up this boys club once and for all.

 

[Marty]

How on earth can Infantino have support from 207 out of 211 countries for the next election??

The countries who want him out haven't managed to find a challenger. So four so far are saying they'll abstain in the vote and the rest just shrug and get on with it.

The nations who want change need to start looking for their candidate for 2027 now. They should've had one for 2023 and have failed miserably.

 

[noggen]

Breaking: Norwegian FA have confirmed they will not support Infantino anymore.
So Denmark, Germany and Norway so far. Guessing more countries will do the same.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

How on earth can Infantino have support from 207 out of 211 countries for the next election??

Fifa World Cup revenue up by more than $1bn after taking tournament to Qatar

Fifa has increased its World Cup revenue by more than $1bn to $7.5bn after taking the tournament to Qatar, the governing body has revealed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Yiddo100]

Breaking: Norwegian FA have confirmed they will not support Infantino anymore.
So Denmark, Germany and Norway so far. Guessing more countries will do the same.

Probably, but with no opposition is it going to make any difference at all?

 

[noggen]

Probably, but with no opposition is it going to make any difference at all?

Not at first, but I’m sure they will have a candidate ready for the 2027 election and the campaign should get going a couple of years before that.

 

[rossdapep]

Breaking: Norwegian FA have confirmed they will not support Infantino anymore.
So Denmark, Germany and Norway so far. Guessing more countries will do the same.

The problem is all the small Asian, African and CONMEBOL nations who are promised finances for "football development"

The whole system needs changing

 

[Trix]

Breaking: Norwegian FA have confirmed they will not support Infantino anymore.
So Denmark, Germany and Norway so far. Guessing more countries will do the same.

Thats great but one of them needs to put up a credible alternative, because without one they are just abstained votes for the inevitable.

 

[noggen]

Thats great but one of them needs to put up a credible alternative, because without one they are just abstained votes for the inevitable.

Norway have Lise Klaveness. The Danes like her as well.

 

[nailsy]

Surely then: "we're unsure if we will be able to wear armbands in support of LGBTQ+ due to potential sanctions that may be applied against our players if we do so. Our intention is to wear them, but if the sanctions are seen as unreasonable we will not be asking our players to wear armbands, it will then be their own choosing".

That not only shows the level which in reality they were prepared to go to show support but also shows that the sanctions are unreasonable.

The whole thing was badly handled IMO. As was Dier talking about the banning of alcohol from stadiums. I wouldn't personally be bothered about it, but the point is not that they decided against alcohol it's the timing of it.

I thought it was pretty obvious that if they were threatened with sporting sanctions then they might have to rethink.

 

[Nice One Cyril]

Just my take FWIW... If FIFA is not fit for purpose, why not just resign from it and start again with clearly defined human rights standards... won't happen I know, but this is an unacceptable situation, where money is the most important thing ?

 

[Dougal]

 

[Trix]

Norway have Lise Klaveness. The Danes like her as well.

Unfortunately as things are, no woman would get enough member votes from all the stuffed shirt old guard to trouble the current status quo.

 

[rossdapep]

Just my take FWIW... If FIFA is not fit for purpose, why not just resign from it and start again with clearly defined human rights standards... won't happen I know, but this is an unacceptable situation, where money is the most important thing ?

Well that would be ideal but there are many issues with that;

- Who is brave enough to separate themselves and start a new organisation.
- How do you get all or most of the nations to join? Bearing in mind a lot of smaller nations and money nations are in bed with FIFA.
- Who gets to decide where the new set up is based?
- Where are the finances and sponsors going to come from to get this thing going? Especially if you only have 8 nations to begin with.
- What if nations like Brazil, Argentina, France etc show no desire of joining? You'd have a tournament of a select few nations - England, Wales, Germany, Norway - every year and it probably won't get the attention or finances to keep going - these countries need to invest in their own game.
- How do you cinvive smaller nations they will receive finances that match or better what FIFA give them?

Ideally these nations who are against Infantino can somehow come together and have a grand plan but I highly doubt it. It is more likely that someone comes in and changes the structure. But even that is slim.

 

[Trix]

Well that would be ideal but there are many issues with that;

- Who is brave enough to separate themselves and start a new organisation.
- How do you get all or most of the nations to join? Bearing in mind a lot of smaller nations and money nations are in bed with FIFA.
- Who gets to decide where the new set up is based?
- Where are the finances and sponsors going to come from to get this thing going? Especially if you only have 8 nations to begin with.
- What if nations like Brazil, Argentina, France etc show no desire of joining? You'd have a tournament of a select few nations - England, Wales, Germany, Norway - every year and it probably won't get the attention or finances to keep going - these countries need to invest in their own game.
- How do you cinvive smaller nations they will receive finances that match or better what FIFA give them?

Ideally these nations who are against Infantino can somehow come together and have a grand plan but I highly doubt it. It is more likely that someone comes in and changes the structure. But even that is slim.

Sponsors and broadcasters would be falling over themselves if we were talking about all the top nations. If the big European sides jumped the South Americans would certainly follow because it's where the money is. People said the same about the BDO before the big players broke off to form the PDC because of how it was run, and the rest as they say is history. If the big players jump ship it'll be all she wrote for FIFA.

 

[Nice One Cyril]

Well that would be ideal but there are many issues with that;

- Who is brave enough to separate themselves and start a new organisation.
- How do you get all or most of the nations to join? Bearing in mind a lot of smaller nations and money nations are in bed with FIFA.
- Who gets to decide where the new set up is based?
- Where are the finances and sponsors going to come from to get this thing going? Especially if you only have 8 nations to begin with.
- What if nations like Brazil, Argentina, France etc show no desire of joining? You'd have a tournament of a select few nations - England, Wales, Germany, Norway - every year and it probably won't get the attention or finances to keep going - these countries need to invest in their own game.
- How do you cinvive smaller nations they will receive finances that match or better what FIFA give them?

Ideally these nations who are against Infantino can somehow come together and have a grand plan but I highly doubt it. It is more likely that someone comes in and changes the structure. But even that is slim.

If they resigned en - block it would possibly force the hand of Infantino to step down. That would be a start. I agree with your points though... A tough decision needs to be taken. This money grabbing organisation, needs to go.