Alexandra Popp will take a stand against violence against women at all World Cup games played by the German national team in Australia. The team has decided on a corresponding captain’s armband.
By Florian Neuhauss from Wyong
“We will wear a single bandage throughout the tournament and want to draw attention to the issue of violence against women,” announced the German captain at the press conference on Wednesday. “We still don’t get enough of that topic.”
This was preceded by talks with her deputies and the team council. Popp pointed out the cooperation between the DFB and UN Women, who have already organized days of action together. It was therefore quickly clear that the team would now decide on this topic.
FIFA specifies eight different themes
FIFA had given the teams eight themes to choose from: “United for Inclusion,” “United for Indigenous Peoples”, “United for Gender Equality”, “United for Peace”, “United for Education for All”, “United Against Hunger”. “, “Football means joy, peace, love, hope and passion” and “United against violence against women”.
“All topics are extremely important,” said Popp, who is playing her fourth World Cup after 2011, 2015 and 2019 and is leading her team as captain for the second time. “Our topic is actually diversity. Everyone knows that. But we’ve been working on this topic for years,” she added.
Choose one pad or wear all
The world governing body gave the players in Australia and New Zealand three options to choose from among the pads and messages: they can wear a pad with the same message throughout the tournament or a pad with a specific theme for each matchday. It is also possible to choose the standard armband that says “Football Unites the World” throughout the tournament.
“One Love” bandage forbidden – colors can still be seen
At the World Cup dress rehearsal against Zambia (2-3), Popp wore the well-known rainbow armband. However, FIFA had previously decided – after discussions with the national associations – to ban this and the “One Love” armband.
At the men’s World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year, there was still a lot of trouble about the captain’s armbands. Because FIFA – unlike now – only very briefly banned the European associations, including Germany, from playing with the “One Love” armband. Mind you, under threat of sanctions. As a result, the world association triggered a huge discussion, not least in Germany. However, the DFB also admitted its own mistakes afterwards.
Curiously, the colors of the “One Love” armband will still be visible at the Women’s World Cup. The FIFA Inclusion armband features a colorful heart, reminiscent of the iconic banned armband.
Popp: Full concentration on the goal
It should now be in everyone’s interests that Down Under the discussion has not spun out again. Especially since Popp was already satisfied after FIFA’s decision on the issues mentioned.
Anyway, she currently has another problem. When asked what the team would have to work on most in view of the first group game against Morocco on Monday, the 32-year-old named the goal – and as a center forward she spoke not least to herself.
“I’m not scoring well in training right now,” she said with a smile, but was very optimistic that she too would be in full form against Morocco. With the bandage on his arm “United against violence against women”.