今日吃瓜

Australian captain Sam Kerr has made the tough call to not wear the rainbow captain鈥檚 armband during the upcoming Women鈥檚 World Cup, to avoid 鈥減utting everything at risk鈥�.聽

Last week, FIFA announced that players at the Women鈥檚 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will not be able to wear the rainbow armband in support of LGBTQI rights. The governing body offered a selection of eight officially sanctioned armbands that team captains can wear throughout the tournament instead.聽

The armbands will bear the following messages: Unite for Inclusion, Unite for Indigenous Peoples, Unite for Gender Equality, Unite for Peace, Unite for Education for All, Unite for Zero Hunger, Unite for Ending Violence Against Women, and Football is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope, and Passion.聽

‘We Expected It’

The Matildas star expressed concern regarding the potential consequences of wearing the rainbow captain’s armband during the upcoming home tournament.聽

鈥淔irstly, we kind of expected it. I didn鈥檛 expect them to change it. Obviously, we would love to wear it 鈥� like most of the teams in the whole world, everyone has voiced that they would love to wear it,鈥� Kerr said.

Kerr reflected on the Men鈥檚 World Cup in Qatar last year, speaking about England captain Harry Kane deciding against wearing the 鈥淥neLove鈥� rainbow armband during the game with Iran following threats by FIFA鈥檚 sporting sanctions to give yellow cards to captains before the games had commenced.聽

鈥淏ut I think you saw with the Men鈥檚 World Cup, Harry Kane for example, first game if he had worn it, yellow card, if he鈥檇 got a yellow card again, he would鈥檝e been sent off.

So, for me it鈥檚 not worth the risk; putting the team at risk; putting everything at risk; and there will be multiple opportunities where I get to use my voice for things,鈥� Kerr said.聽

Rainbow Jerseys

The Matildas became the first national team to wear rainbow numbers on their jerseys to celebrate Sydney WorldPride during their game against Spain in February, in celebration of Sydney WorldPride 2023.聽

Kerr was photographed embracing her girlfriend Kristie Mewis on the field at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the bronze medal match between Australia and the US.聽

The all-time leading Australian international scorer went public about her relationship with United States international Kristie Mewis, posting a picture of the couple to in late 2021.聽

The Matildas star also made history by becoming the first female footballer to appear on a FIFA video game global cover last year. Professional Footballers Australia co-chief executive and former Matildas striker Kate Gill condemned FIFA鈥檚 decision to prevent players from donning the rainbow armband, describing the action as hypocritical.聽

鈥淚n authentically raising their voices they have been powerful allies for many. FIFA is now attempting to define for these same players and their peers around the world, the limits of their freedom of expression regarding human rights, whilst at the same time stating that football unites the world and can shine a spotlight on important causes鈥�, Gill told the Sydney Morning Herald.听听

Gill praised the Matildas for being at the forefront of the 鈥減ursuit of gender equality, LGBTI+ inclusion and ensuring that sport is a genuine force for good鈥�, adding that 鈥済ood allyship鈥� required courage and 鈥渂eing an apologist for those who are unwilling to respect human rights is the exact opposite鈥�.聽