Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka mentioned Wednesday his facet didn’t have to repeat Germany’s mouth-covering protest towards FIFA’s stance on rainbow-themed armbands. Germany lined up for his or her group photograph earlier than a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan, making the gesture after they deserted plans for skipper Manuel Neuer to put on the “OneLove” armband following threats of on-field disciplinary motion by FIFA.

“I don’t think we need to do anything as the Swiss team. We need to respect the rules and concentrate on our football, that’s all I intend to do,” captain Xhaka informed reporters forward of his group’s Group G opener towards Cameroon on Thursday.

“We’re hear to play football and not hand out lessons to anyone.”

The Swiss had been one among seven European groups whose captains had been to put on the armband in help of LGBTQ folks on the event in Qatar, the place homosexuality is prohibited.

Germany’s soccer affiliation (DFB) mentioned on Tuesday it was analyzing the legality of FIFA’s risk, after a number of the groups got here below hearth at house for failing to take a stronger stand towards FIFA’s stance.

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Netherlands midfielder Davy Klaassen, who nation was one of many seven to again down, later praised the Germans for his or her protest.

“That’s a nice variation on the armband. it was a good way to do it,” he informed reporters.

Klaassen’s group tackle Ecuador of their second Group A match on Thursday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)

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