England players have raised concerns with their union about not wanting to be pressured into speaking out on political issues around the World Cup in the US, Sky News can reveal.
There are 100 days to go until another politically-charged tournament, with concerns raised by rights groups about Donald Trump’s travel bans, immigration crackdowns, the militarisation of policing, discrimination and military action launched against Iran and Venezuela.
The Three Lions, including captain Harry Kane, have mentioned in talks with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) about how to deal with calls to take a moral stand – including from the media.
‘Hung out to dry’
PFA chief Maheta Molango told Sky News: “We’re talking about people who are smart, who are socially conscious, people who understand that they don’t live in a bubble, people will really understand that they have a platform, that platform can be used to create a better world and to try to influence people.
“However, what some of them have told me is that they found it a little bit unfair that ultimately, for as much as they have a platform, why should they turn into spokespeople for governments or for governing bodies that in reality should be the ones taking the lead?
“I think some of them felt that in the past, and we’ve seen that, for example, in Qatar, some of them basically were hung out to dry.
“Because instead of having the government or having the governing body showing leadership on certain topics, all of a sudden the players were asked to become political spokespeople and that’s not what they are. Those people are paid for delivering a show on the pitch.”
The buildup to the last World Cup for England’s men was dominated by activism plans in Qatar.
The Football Association had planned a rainbow armband for Kane to highlight LGBTQ+ rights, but withdrew it after FIFA threatened punishments.
The FA did discuss conditions for migrant workers, while Gareth Southgate was more likely to talk out political issues publicly than current boss Thomas Tuchel.
Germany went ahead with their own protests but captain Joshua Kimmich later said the team regretted expressing “ourselves in a very political way”, as they went out in the group stage.
Some England players could still choose to speak out on this summer’s World Cup, which is also being played in Canada and Mexico.
“They are talking about all these issues, but behind the scenes, they don’t just necessarily want to talk about them in public,” Mr Molango said.
“It is for them to use their platform when they deem it appropriate. Most of them have a view.
“They’re very conscious of what’s going on, they want to make a difference, but it needs to be on their own terms. It cannot be that they are forced to become political spokespeople because that’s not their job.”
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Players have no say in the selection of World Cup hosts, with the decision taken by the FIFA Congress featuring every national football association.
So they cannot be accused of being complicit with their silence about injustices in countries while playing there, according to Mr Molango – a former player who studied law and political science.
“When a player does not speak, it’s not that he or she does not care,” he said.
“Give the players a voice [on FIFA decisions], and they’ll be able to be held accountable, but you cannot just cherry-pick when it suits you to let the players have a choice. I think that’s unfair.”
‘Football needs to be out of politics’
There were awkward scenes during the Club World Cup last summer, when Juventus players in the Oval Office were challenged by Mr Trump on transgender participation in sport and discussed military action on Iran.
He was also front and centre at the World Cup draw in December, receiving a peace prize created for him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Football needs to be out of politics, football needs to cater for everyone and should never be perceived as being siding with one side or the other, irrespective of what we may think morally,” Mr Molango said.
“And I feel very strongly about that. The money of football should never be used for any political goals. So I think that’s absolutely wrong.”
