Qatar and FIFA stand up to each other?
Manuel Neuer is facing the opportunity of his life
A commentary by David Needy, Doha
11/22/2022, 8:45 p.m
A goalkeeper is faced with the biggest decision of his life: Will Manuel Neuer still give up on the penalty and send a one-love sign? After all, it’s about much more than football. The whole DFB team has the chance to show the imaginary middle finger to autocrats, Qatar and FIFA.
Manuel Neuer has won a lot in his life as a footballer. Championships, cups, Champions League titles, a world championship. But there has never been so much at stake for him, there has never been a bigger pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. pun intended. The captain of the German national team faces the biggest decision of his career on Wednesday. And before the chance of a lifetime.
Because when Neuer appears in the warm-up jacket over the jersey and, despite all the threats, shortly before the national anthem should bare his jersey including the “One Love” armband. If only all TV cameras on earth would broadcast this moment, this important sign for human rights and against exclusion, around the planet. If the keeper would then proudly pick up the yellow card due for it and hold his head high. How amazed the world would be. What would Qatar and FIFA be angry about?
Never else would Neuer have the chance to achieve such a monumental victory. A victory that goes far beyond football. A victory that defies autocrats, despots and power vultures à la Gianni Infantino and opens the eyes of many. A victory for humanity.
It’s not even about the armband
Who has seen the brave Iranian fans who protested against the regime at home and accepted far harsher punishments, beatings and even death. Who marveled at the Iranian national team, how they took their chance of life and consistently remained silent during the national anthem to send a sign of solidarity to the demonstrators on the streets of their country. He knows that this absurd World Cup is about much more than football. And that elementary signals can also be sent in the desert state and even against the brutal regime of Iran.
It’s not about the armband either. That a scrap of fabric (what exactly did the bandage stand for? LGBTQ+ rights, but also for anti-racism, gender equality, rights for people with disabilities and for guest workers in Qatar?) became a huge symbol for inclusion, equality, freedom and human rights fits with the absurdity of the tournament in Qatar, where much is exaggerated. Above all, because this is hardly a political statement, but about values that every person in the world wants to be treated with, which every person in the world should consider normal.
It’s not about Manuel Neuer either. You shouldn’t beat the goalkeeper, you can have sympathy for him, after all he’s in a dilemma. He really wanted to wear the armband, now he can’t. Also because the DFB says it cannot risk sanctions for the players.
Probably nothing will happen
It is unclear how much leeway the goalkeeper has in deciding whether to wear the armband after all. However, the captain of the German national team is anything but a person without power. All DFB kickers are like that. Imagine if they came out tomorrow with their hair or eyebrows dyed rainbow colors. Or with special fingernails (except Neuer), as demonstrated by an Iranian supporter with symbols for women, life and freedom (the protesters’ rallying cry) at the game against England. Imagine if they just wouldn’t cave in to those even more powerful. What would the world be amazed if the DFB-Elf dared to do that.
Most likely none of this will happen. It is very likely that a goalkeeper without a “One Love” armband will lead the national team against Japan. It is very likely that the sheikhs in Qatar and the bureaucrats in Zurich will get their way. It would be another sad chapter of this World Cup. But you couldn’t blame Manuel Neuer, the athlete, either.
But hope dies last. Especially when it comes to humanity. Possibly, quite possibly, Neuer, the human, straddles in between. Perhaps he sets a worldwide sign of love, of equality. Maybe he’ll stand up to FIFA and Qatar when nobody else will. Maybe he’s taking the chance of a lifetime.