NETHERLANDS DRAW LINE UNDER ARMBAND PROTESTS AT WC

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has confirmed his team will not mirror Germany’s mouth-covering protest before their second World Cup group game against Ecuador on Friday. Germany performed the gesture during their team photo prior to Wednesday’s shock 2-1 defeat against Japan. The German protest came after they were forced to abandon plans for skipper Manuel Neuer to wear a rainbow-themed “Onelove” armband following threats of on-field disciplinary action by FIFA. Captains of several European nations had initially hoped to wear the rainbow armbands, which had been viewed as a symbolic protest against laws in World Cup host nation Qatar.

EU PARL CALLS ON FIFA TO HELP WITH AID FOR MIGRANTS

The EU parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a resolution that calls on FIFA to help compensate the families of the migrant workers who died, as well as workers who suffered rights abuses, during preparations for the World Cup. MEPS also urged the Qatari authorities to conduct a full investigation into human rights abuses in the run-up. The resolution also deplored reports of abuses of the LGBTQ+ community in Qatar and called on the country to decriminalize same-sex relations.