In his interview published in L’Équipe tonight, FFF president Noël Le Graët was notably asked about the armband that Hugo Lloris and other European captains intend to wear at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the month.
The Gulf state has been widely criticised for its oppressive laws and alleged mistreatment of its LGBT residents, and an ambassador for the tournament has recently branded homosexuality as “damage in the mind”.
A UEFA initiative has led to a multicoloured armband, designed to be against all types of discrimination, being worn by European captains in their Nations League games in September. In Lloris’ absence, it was Les Bleus vice-captain Raphaël Varane who wore the “One Love” armband in the final international break before the World Cup.
Le Graët has indicated that he will discuss the issue with the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, but that he would rather not see him wear it during France’s World Cup title defence in Qatar: “We’re going to be playing in a country that we need to respect. If it has to be worn, we’ll wear it. It’s not that I’m against the armband, but sometimes, I tell myself that we want to give out lessons when we should also look at what’s happening at home.”
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
