Denmark will protest against the human rights record of the tournament’s hosts, Qatar, by sporting “toned down” uniforms. Hummel created an all-black uniform to symbolize “mourning.” The action was taken in response to FIFA’s denial of Denmark’s request for permission to allow its players to wear pro-human rights training shirts with the phrase “Human Rights for All” during the World Cup in Qatar.
The company referred to reports of casualties among migrant labourers working on Qatar’s mega infrastructure projects
In a statement, Hummel said, “We don’t wish to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives,” the company said in an Instagram post that referred to reports of casualties among migrant labourers working on Qatar’s mega infrastructure projects.”
“We support the Danish national team all the way, but that isn’t the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation.” The kit manufacturer stated that in addition to the primary red strip and the second jersey in white, the third strip in black and grey served as a symbol of “mourning.”
FIFA has a strict policy when it comes to the addition of slogans or political statements to sporting apparel, and after a contentious build-up, has urged teams to “concentrate on football.”
This is a jersey with a very clear message about universal human rights
Although it maintains that it was a political message, the Danish Football Federation (DBU) has accepted the ruling. According to DBU director Jakob Jensen, “this is a jersey with a very clear message about universal human rights.”
“We don’t think there’s any politics in it. We think that human rights are universal, and we stand by this view. FIFA had a different assessment and sadly we had to take that into consideration.”
In the run-up to the FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar has come under fire for its treatment of migrant workers, human rights record, and attitude toward homosexual partnerships, which are banned and punished by up to three years in prison.
6,500 migrant labourers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka perished in Qatar
The Guardian reported in 2021 that 6,500 migrant labourers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka perished in Qatar during the ten years following the country’s selection to host the World Cup in 2010.
Only three of them were deemed to be “work-related,” despite the fact that 37 of them were directly connected to World Cup building operations.
While this is going on, European teams are prepared to disobey FIFA and will wear “One Love” armbands with multicoloured hearts during the games. The treatment of LGBTQ groups in Qatar prompted the creation of the “One Love” programme.
