Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Germany’s gesture turned up the volume on FIFA and the idiots on social media
ON social media, some people suggested the hand-over-the-mouth gesture made by Germany’s players, ahead of their game with Japan, was a contributory factor to their shock defeat.
Which shows you one thing and one thing only – social media really is littered with idiots.
“This is what happens when you focus on politics only,” read one gormless post.
Firstly, the gesture was not about politics, it was about FIFA’S and the
Qataris’ attempted clampdown on free speech.
And, secondly, if anyone actually thinks that this simple act in the prematch team picture routine could affect the performance of a group of professional footballers, they are from another planet.
The bandwagon that so many like to jump on is to scornfully dismiss scenarios such as this as virtuesignalling, a truly dismal phrase that suggests any visual expression of your beliefs should be pilloried.
Presumably, when Tommie Smith and
John Carlos gave the
Black Power salute after winning gold and bronze in the 200 metres at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 – producing one of sport’s most powerful and controversial images – some of today’s commentators would have described it as virtue-signalling.
Smith and Carlos were suspended and removed from the Olympics and their action sparked fierce debate across the United States, especially as they had made the salute during the national anthem.
Now, no one would suggest the collective gesture from the German footballers in the Khalifa International Stadium will be remembered as having even a sliver of the significance that became attached to the Smith and Carlos stance.
But that is not to say it was insignificant or unimportant, particularly as it was so well explained by captain Manuel Neuer.
“We said they can take our armband, but, as much as
FIFA want to, they will never silence us. We stand for our values and for human rights. We wanted to show that,” said Neuer.
The argument goes that if players have such fiercely held views, they should have just worn the armband anyway and accepted the consequences.
After all, what is a protest without jeopardy?
But Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, explained that one quite well, saying: “I understand why everybody would be upset about the Onelove armband not being there, but there was no way we could ask Gareth Bale to take a yellow or red card at his first World Cup… how could you do that?”
Mooney also went on to say how he had reports that not only were rainbow bucket hats confiscated from fans by security, but that shoelaces and wristbands were also taken off people.
The spotlight has to be kept on these contraventions of basic human rights.
And that is why the simple and unified act of placing their hands over their mouths for the world to see was not some pathetic, so-called virtue-signalling stunt from the Germany players.
It was both a meaningful and, yes, powerful gesture.
It was laudable and impactful and, in the unlikely event that the England players do similar ahead of their match against the USA this evening, they should be congratulated regardless of what follows on the pitch.