Tell FIFA: No Political Symbols, No LGBT Rainbow

Petition to: FIFA

 

Tell FIFA: No Political Symbols, No LGBT Rainbow

Tell FIFA: No Political Symbols, No LGBT Rainbow

0200,000
  163,432
 
163,432 have signed. Let's get to 200,000!

In international soccer [i.e. football] matches, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, and some professional teams have required players to wear an LGBT rainbow on their jerseys. England required players to wear LGBT rainbow laces on their cleats. Some teams have required captains to wear an LGBT rainbow captain’s armband. Some have placed the LGBT rainbow on corner flags. 

The LGBT rainbow is a political symbol. The Laws of the Game from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) state, “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” (Law 04.5). FIFA’s Equipment Regulations add that this includes a ban on any “political or comparable symbol” (Article 8.3). FIFA needs to enforce its own rules.

Not everyone agrees with the causes represented by the LGBT rainbow. Players who have declined to wear the LGBT rainbow in international and league play have been harassed and now risk being disadvantaged in their careers.

FIFA and IFAB have a responsibility to assure players are judged by their soccer skills, not by their political or religious views. No one should be required to wear a political symbol with which they disagree.

Those who disagree with the politics represented by the LGBT rainbow include some religious believers, as well as those who oppose the threat that transgenderism poses to soccer for girls and women. These individuals should not be excluded from soccer just because they hold opinions that are at odds with LGBT advocates. 

FIFA and IFAB need to guarantee all are welcome.

FIFA has disciplined teams for using other political symbols. 

  • In 2016, FIFA fined the Football Association of Ireland for wearing a jersey with text commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rebellion.

  • In 2017, FIFA issued a warning to Argentina for “Wearing [a captain’s] armband with symbol.”

  • In 2018, England’s Football Association fined the manager of Manchester City F.C., Pep Guardiola, for violating the ban on political symbols by wearing a yellow ribbon in remembrance of what the Catalan separatists refer to as political prisoners during a match.

FIFA needs to uphold its ban on political symbols consistently and stop teams from placing political messages or symbols, such as the LGBT rainbow, on player gear, on the field, in the technical area, or on field equipment.

Our recommendations to FIFA are:

  1. Discipline teams that violate Law 04.5 by placing political symbols, to include the LGBT rainbow, on any part of the kit, protective equipment, or captain’s armband.

  2. Support fairness and inclusion of all. Do not exclude people based on political or religious views.

  3. Work with IFAB to revise football’s Laws of the Game to extend the ban on “political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images political symbols” on player equipment to include also all other field (e.g. corner flags) and technical area equipment, and on the field and its immediate surroundings.

Sign this petition to ask FIFA's President and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to stop the use of political symbols.

---

In the full “Let All Play” report, you can read stories from individual players, and more about how political symbols violate the rules of football: https://www.letallplay.org/fifareport

Read more about FIFA bans on political symbols in soccer on page 3 of the report, “Let All Play: Yes to Soccer, No to Politics.”

0200,000
  163,432
 
163,432 have signed. Let's get to 200,000!

Complete your signature

Sign this petition now!

 
Please enter your email
Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your country
Please enter your zip code
Please select an option:
We process your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

No Political Symbols

To: President of FIFA Gianni Infantino

CC: International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA Disciplinary Committee

I ask you to keep all political symbols out of football. Political symbols do not belong on player gear or field equipment.

Football’s Laws of the Game state: “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images." (Law 04.5)

Political symbols and messages are divisive and controversial. They do not belong in football.

According to the 2019 Let All Play report, “FIFA has a responsibility to assure players are judged by their soccer skills, not by their political views or religious beliefs." No one should be coerced to wear a symbol or message with which they disagree. I want football to be a sport that is truly welcoming to all.

Play fair. Uphold the rules consistently and ban all “political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.” The pitch is for football, not politics.

As a fan, I want to cheer for my teams, not watch football be used for political fights.

We who love football need you to take action to say no to politics and yes to football!


[Your Name]

No Political Symbols

To: President of FIFA Gianni Infantino

CC: International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA Disciplinary Committee

I ask you to keep all political symbols out of football. Political symbols do not belong on player gear or field equipment.

Football’s Laws of the Game state: “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images." (Law 04.5)

Political symbols and messages are divisive and controversial. They do not belong in football.

According to the 2019 Let All Play report, “FIFA has a responsibility to assure players are judged by their soccer skills, not by their political views or religious beliefs." No one should be coerced to wear a symbol or message with which they disagree. I want football to be a sport that is truly welcoming to all.

Play fair. Uphold the rules consistently and ban all “political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.” The pitch is for football, not politics.

As a fan, I want to cheer for my teams, not watch football be used for political fights.

We who love football need you to take action to say no to politics and yes to football!


[Your Name]