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Simple solution: If you are so quick to offense that you cannot tolerate armbands with rainbows, you shouldn't host the World Cup.
I'd agree with that with one condition - if the armband-wearing folks start applying the approach "if you are so quick to offense that you cannot tolerate X, you shouldn't Y" to themselves. Somehow, I doubt they'd agree to do that. With the rainbow-armband squad, it always works only to one side - you should tolerate what we do, but we get to demand that you change your behavior if it offends us. They got hoist on their own petard - because it's all about power. They overestimated their power, that's all there is. I'd like to have the rules where it's not about power, but only for real, not pretend that it's not about power when it's convenient, and then lean into the power when it helps getting their way.
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why?, it's in their code of ethics the banning of political stunts and respecting the dignity of host countries. Hosting the worldcup isn't to opening the doors to political activism, it's about foot ball.
1.
In dealings with government institutions, national and international
organisations, associations and groupings, persons bound by this Code shall,
in addition to observing the basic rules of art. 13, remain politically neutral, in
accordance with the principles and objectives of FIFA, the confederations,
associations, leagues and clubs, and generally act in a manner compatible with
their function and integrity
1.
Persons bound by this Code shall not offend the dignity or integrity of
a country, private person or group of people through contemptuous,
discriminatory or denigratory words or actions on account of race, skin colour,
ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, language, religion,
political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual
orientation or any other reason.
I can see the argument for why clause 14 is applicable. (But precedent would be nice. Where is the line drawn for what is and isn't a political statement?) Per this clause the players should stop wearing armbands. (The Qatari behavior towards the rainbow-clothed fans is still rude.)
Clause 22 is clearly unrelated: rainbow armbands are not contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory, nor do they offend the dignity or integrity of anyone.
Showing with those armbands in a country clearly opposed to what they represent is showing contempt for the customs and culture of the host nation, specially when to do that you have to violate art 14 too.
I would assume that anything controversial would fall under this umbrella.
Yeah, it would be nice if sports was just about sports, and not just another stage for the activists to pull their stunts.
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Would you say the same for them not tolerating armbands with swastikas, which after all are an Indian symbol of the day and symbolise good luck (plenty of people have swastikas on the front door of their house in India)?
(And no, the standard swastika in Hinduism isn't the mirror image of the Nazi version, that is the sawvastika which represents nights and symbolises the destructive goddess Kali, hence is pretty rarely used).
Yes. If some Indian person wants to have swastikas on their clothing that's perfectly fine. Like, this is basic liberalism: are you surprised by this answer?
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