England captain Harry Kane must wear the OneLove armband in their World Cup opener against Iran on Monday, claims Jamie Carragher. The former Three Lions defender insists a yellow card for Kane would be worth taking as it only strengthens the campaign.
Captains who plan to wear the armband at the tournament have been warned they could be banned from playing. The anti-discrimination gesture promotes diversity and inclusion, issues Qatar have been hugely criticised for.
Reports have also suggested skippers will be booked if they enter the field of play while wearing the armband. Kane insisted over the weekend that he still plans to wear it.
A yellow card would leave Kane at risk of being suspended later in the tournament. But Carragher believes England have no option but to stick to their guns and carry out what they had planned.
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Carragher told Sky Sports News: “He has to wear it. England have made a big noise about the fact that Harry Kane’s going to wear this, this is their almost protest in some ways to the World Cup being in Qatar and the situation, human rights, everything that goes on in the country that people have criticised.
“This was England’s way of showing that they don’t agree with everything that’s going on with that in the country. They can’t pull out now.
“The fact that Harry Kane would get a yellow card, and I’ve seen some reports this morning that that would happen, I think it only strengthens the campaign if you like. For England to pull out and to not do that now because of a yellow card to Harry Kane I think would be weak. So I think it should make them more determined.”
Tottenham star Kane said on Sunday that the English FA are still in conversation over whether to wear the armband. He told reporters: “I think we’ve made it clear as a team that we want to wear the armband.
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“I know the FA are talking to FIFA at the moment and I think by game time tomorrow they will have the decision.”
Holland is another country who is planning to wear the armband. But skipper Virgil van Dijk insists he may have to reconsider because he doesn’t want to start a match on a yellow card.
The Liverpool defender said: “I will wear the one love armband tomorrow. Nothing changed from our point of view.
“If I will get a yellow card for wearing it then we would have to discuss it because I don’t like to play while being on a yellow.”
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