WORLD CUP: Germany players stage protest over ‘OneLove’ armbands

Germany players on Wednesday placed their hands over their mouths during a team photo ahead of their World Cup game against Japan in Qatar.

The move was in protest against Fifa’s threat of sanctions over the “OneLove” armband.

“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard,” the German team tweeted.

A spokesman for the German government said earlier that the rights of sexual and gender minorities are “non-negotiable”.

“Our team represents our country and our diversity and we as government are of the view that sport can autonomously choose its own means to campaign for values like diversity and tolerance,” he said at a news conference in Berlin.

The German Football Federation is already investigating whether it was legal for Fifa to threaten players with a sanction for wearing the OneLove armband. (BBC Sport)