There was a high level of conflict when Fifa put its foot down for rainbow markings in the World Cup. A total of seven nations had planned to use so-called Onelove captain’s armbands: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Wales, Switzerland, England and the Netherlands. “Only” the latter three progressed from the group stage. AWAY: The WC was a disappointment for Kevin De Bruyne and Belgium. Photo: BERNADETT SZABO / Reuters Arsène Wenger has noticed that. The former Arsenal manager is now head of global development at Fifa, and the Frenchman commented on the start of the World Cup from a stage in Qatar. – When you go to a WC, you cannot lose the first game. Teams with experience of performing in championships, such as France, England and Brazil, played well in the first match, said Wenger and continued: – Teams that were mentally ready to focus on the match and not political demonstrations. The session, which was filmed, was shared among others by Sky Sports on Sunday. – Nonsense Even if Wenger does not mention the nation by name, it is clearly Germany. The Germans protested against Fifa and the rainbow ban before the opening match against Japan, which they won 2–1. Germany eventually crashed out of the group stage on goal difference. This is still too simple a conclusion, believes former football coach and Viaplay commentator Lars Tjærnås. – Always had enormous respect for Wenger. Here I think he is simply talking nonsense. It is possible to find 100 professional reasons why someone has performed better than others. Then he should stick to it – not become a dissenting voice to the few who have dared to show distance from “the World Cup to shame”, writes Tjærnås on Twitter. He explains to news that there are many academic reasons why, for example, Germany is out. – Then he and his group should deal with it, instead of going into topics that at best become assumptions, and at worst can be used as income for Fifa’s cowardly line in the conflicts surrounding the World Cup, says Tjærnås. The Times reporter Martyn Ziegler also highlights Wenger’s Fifa role. – Wenger is so indoctrinated by Fifa that he now claims that Germany’s “political demonstrations” cost them a place in the World Cup, comments Ziegler on Twitter. – Pure propaganda news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt points out that Wenger has also previously made controversial but “Fifa-friendly” opinions. – Wenger is paid very good money by Fifa to manage the development of football on a global basis. But it is clearly not enough. In several cases, including the proposal for a World Cup every other year, he has sounded like a puppet for the ventriloquist Infantino. And he does it here too. What Wenger says is totally undocumented and most of all opportunistic – and reveals an attempt to plant some kind of truth about the consequences of political and idealistic involvement around the World Cup, says Saltvedt. CRITICAL: news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt. Photo: Martin Leigland / news Wenger made headlines around the world when he proposed last year to organize the football World Cup every other year. Saltvedt adds that in theory Wenger may be right in some of what he is now saying, but: – It is easy, populist and impossible to prove. And Wenger knows that well. So then this becomes pure propaganda. Germany had a bad first game, but hardly because they held their hands in front of their mouths for ten seconds. Denmark “only” managed a 0-0 draw against Tunisia in the opening match, but this would turn out to be the only point they took. Even with a surprising last place in group D. The Danes, together with the Germans, want to take a stand for human rights, and national team manager Kasper Hjulmand told openly that he struggled with himself after the rainbow row. Although he did not want to use it as an excuse, Hjulmand admitted that the non-sporting impact created. – There is no excuse. But it would be strange to believe anything other than that it has had an impact on the whole thing. To one extent or another. I don’t know if it meant anything on the pitch or not, said Hjulmand at a press conference the day after the WC exit.
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Wenger’s appearance arouses strong reactions – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
