MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. The national team of Belgium changed the design of their uniforms at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar following a directive from the world’s governing football body, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday citing the press office of the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA).
Previously, the national team of Belgium submitted a request to allow its national players to wear white-colored jerseys with a multi-color ‘Love’ label hidden beneath the collar of their uniforms at the 2022 World Cup matches.
According to AP’s report, "Multi-color detail on the white shirt was described as a ‘symbol for mutual values on diversity, equality and inclusivity’ at the September launch by Belgium’s signature electronic music event Tomorrowland."
However, following certain guidelines on uniforms from FIFA, Belgium’s ‘Red Devils’ had to switch to its traditional red-color jerseys to play matches at the global football championship, held in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar.
"We had to skip it for commercial reasons because of referring to Tomorrowland," the AP quoted the Belgian Football Federation’s press service as saying.
"The RBFA and the players are very frustrated by FIFA’s unprecedented decision. We wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football," the RBFA said in its statement. "We have tried several times to avoid escalating this initiative over the values that, after all, FIFA and the European federations share but we have had no response."
"Our players and coaches are very disappointed, but they decided not to wear the One Love captain's armband so as not to take any sporting risk. They are strong supporters of inclusion and will continue to show support in other ways," according to the statement.
"The RBFA, as well as the other countries concerned, will take a critical look at their relationship with FIFA in the coming period," the governing football body of Belgium added in its statement.
The press office of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced on Monday that seven national teams participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar decided against wearing the ‘OneLove’ armbands during their matches in the Persian Gulf state.
According to the press office, a work group that included the KNVB asked FIFA for permission to wear the ‘OneLove’ captain’s armband, but, just hours before the scheduled matches, FIFA officially banned wearing the armbands warning that a possible yellow card would be flashed later.
Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup between November 20 and December 18 at eight stadiums in five cities across the country. The eight stadiums at the issue are Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium.
The championship kicked off on Sunday with a picturesque ceremony and the subsequent opening match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, which ended 2-0 in favor of Ecuador.