Belgium captain Eden Hazard has said players should “concentrate on the football” after Germany covered their mouths in protest at FIFA over its response to the OneLove campaign.
Germany performed the gesture as they lined up for a team photo before their shock 2-1 loss against Japan in their World Cup opener, with their coach Hansi Flick saying it was a way of showing “FIFA is muzzling us.”
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Belgium, Germany and five other European teams abandoned the anti-discrimination OneLove initiative earlier this week after players were threatened with sanctions if they wore the rainbow armband.
Speaking after his side’s 1-0 win against Canada on Wednesday, however, Hazard said it would have been better if Flick’s side had not made a stand and won their game.
“Yes but afterwards, they lost the match,” Hazard said, when asked for his thoughts on the gesture. “They would have been better off not doing it and winning.
“We’re here to play football. I’m not here to pass on a political message, there are people who are better placed for that.
“We want to be concentrated on the football.”
