One Love armband climbdown is a betrayal of the values of a World Cup - The Yorkshire Post says

While just as the nation will be holding its breath in anticipation of English success, fans from other countries will be going through similar emotions for their own teams.

However, the clouds that have enveloped the competition being hosted in Qatar show no signs of lifting. The responsibility for this falls squarely at the door of the governing body Fifa, which has proven itself out of touch with the game that it claims to be a custodian of.

Qatar’s human rights record, its treatment of migrant workers, many of whom built the stadiums that are being used to host the spectacle, and of course the Gulf state’s treatment of the LGBTQ community.

The England captain Harry Kane was expected to wear a One Love armband as a protest against all forms of discrimination but Fifa threatened “sporting sanctions” should such a protest take place. It was another betrayal by the governing body.

Cynics may say that an armband won’t change anything but it was an opportunity for football to raise awareness. A missed opportunity, as it turned out. As England brushed aside Iran in a one-sided game 6-2, Kane didn’t defy the edict from Fifa in the end.

The English Football Association, along with the other countries planning on the same protest, should not have climbed down. And if Fifa thinks this is the end of the matter then it is hugely mistaken.

As LGBTQ campaigner Richie Barlow says: “What FIFA has done is committed a homophobic act and sent a very clear message around the world: they are happy to use and profit from the LGBTQ+ community when it suits them, then disrespect us when we need their support.”