Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German national football team, has recently expressed regret over the political gesture his team made during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the game itself rather than making political statements.
Reflecting on the controversial incident, Kimmich mentioned that the protest where the team covered their mouths during a pre-game photo in response to FIFA’s ban on the ‘OneLove’ armband, a symbol promoting diversity and tolerance,diverted attention from the tournament and affected the team’s performance.
The decision to protest stemmed from FIFA’s warning that players would face sanctions for displaying the rainbow armband in Qatar, a country with strict laws against homosexuality.
At the time, former Germany coach Hansi Flick explained that the gesture aimed to send a message against FIFA’s restrictions on free expression, but the impact on the team’s cohesion and focus became evident as the tournament progressed.
“We wanted to convey that FIFA was restricting our freedom to make a statement,” Kimmich recalled. However, he noted that looking back, the political stance had shifted attention away from the joy and unity of the game.
“We, as players, do stand for certain values, but it isn’t our job to make political statements every time we play,” Kimmich said, underscoring the distraction it created.
As he looked ahead to future tournaments, Kimmich shared a hope that players would be able to focus on the sport without feeling pressure to engage in political gestures.
He acknowledged that while Western countries often view certain values as universal, they should be cautious in assuming those ideals are welcomed worldwide, adding, “We have our own issues to address at home, and I am not a political expert.”
Kimmich also shared his perspective on Saudi Arabia’s potential hosting of the 2034 World Cup, noting that he hopes the upcoming generation of players can focus solely on the competition, free from external pressures to represent political causes.
