ENGLAND DISCUSS PROTEST

Kane says stars may speak out over Qatar

HARRY KANE says that the England team will discuss joining Germany, Norway and Holland players in making human rights statements during the qualification games for the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Norway started the protest movement last week wearing T-shirts bearing the message ‘Human Rights On and Off the Pitch’ before their qualifier against Gibraltar and yesterday against Turkey held up one hand during their national anthem to represent the Human Rights logo.

Kane (below), preparing to lead England out for their World Cup qualifier against Albania in Tirana today, said: ‘There’s been nothing yet but you saw the teams doing it a couple of days ago, so I think it would be a good conversation to have among the players.

‘And from there I’m sure there would be an outcome.

‘First and foremost that’s a conversation that we need to have among the players, the manager and the staff. We haven’t had that conversation yet. We have a great relationship with the FA and it is a conversation I guess we’ll have to have.

‘But I can’t see there being anything against it. Like we’ve done with taking the knee, I think it’s important to have everyone’s point of view, everyone in a room discussing what they feel and what they want to do. Then we can make a decision as a group and go forward with that.’

England coach Gareth Southgate made it clear that he has no problem with players speaking out about Qatar’s welfare record.

‘We have a mature environment,’ he said. ‘We want well-rounded people who have an opinion.’

He is all too aware that controversy comes attached, and added: ‘Of course, what happens is we get asked an opinion, we give an honest, well-balanced answer and then we get slammed.’

An outright boycott of Qatar 2022 will not happen as nations will not risk expulsion from the 2026 tournament that could result. But players do have the power to effect change and Norway coach Stale Solbakken made his views clear after his team’s protest.

‘The word “dialogue” is very vague and very cowardly,’ said Solbakken. ‘There must be pressure. Direct measures must be taken to make things better. We can do things that the world might see.’