Reza Ghoochannejhad is critical of the KNVB’s decision not to put the OneLove captain’s armband around Virgil van Dijk’s upper arm. FIFA threatened to hand out yellow cards to players wearing the much-discussed band, which caused the Dutch football association to change course. At first it was said that regardless of the punishment, it would be chosen to wear the band.
In the studio of the NOS is previewed by Ghoochannejhad, former striker and international of Iran, on the match between his homeland and England. He was first asked by presenter Rivkah op het Veld about the KNVB’s decision not to wear the OneLove captain’s armband. “I think it shows no character,” responds Ghoochannejhad firmly. “The lady (director of top football Marianne van Leeuwen of the KNVB, ed.) Says that we are going there to play football, but you already knew that before you took the position.”
The change of course of the Dutch bond, and all other European countries that wanted to wear the OneLove band, is a sign of weakness, according to the Iranian. “If you indicate in advance that you want to play with that band regardless of the sanctions, then you have to stand behind it. I think backing down now is a bit too easy. Of course everyone has to know what they are doing, but now they come up with the excuse that there should be football. We all knew that already.”
FIFA informed the European associations on Monday that wearing the OneLove captain’s armband will result in a yellow card. The KNVB reacted with dismay. “We stand for the OneLove message and will continue to spread it, but our first priority at the World Cup is winning the games. Then you don’t want the captain to start the game with a yellow card. We regret that it didn’t work out to jointly arrive at a reasonable solution. Together with the other countries involved, we will take a critical look at our relationship with FIFA in the near future.”
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