De seneste dage har VM langt fra kun handlet om fodbold, men lige så meget om FIFA, Gianni Infantino som præsident og anførerbindet ’One Love’. 

Derfor indkaldte DBU i dag til et ekstraordinært pressemøde, hvor formand Jesper Møller, adm. direktør Jakob Jensen og fodbolddirektør Peter Møller var til stede. Her rettede DBU stor kritik af FIFA, at DBU ikke støtter den siddende præsidents genvalg og redegjorde for hele forløbet om ’One Love’-anførerbindet. 

Langt størstedelen af FIFA’s medlemslande har skrevet under på støtteerklæring til genvalg af Gianni Infantino som siddende FIFA-præsident. Men Danmark har ikke skrevet under, og det kommer heller ikke til at ske, fastslår formand Jesper Møller:

”Jeg har været til VM siden 1998 i DBU-regi og fem gange med deltagelse af dansk landshold, og det er fuldstændigt uacceptabelt og dybt kritisabelt, hvad der er foregået. Det har jeg også givet til kende, og derfor kan vi ikke støtte op om præsidenten i relation til genvalg,” forklarer Jesper Møller.

 

Sportslige sanktioner for ’One Love ’-anførerbind

Ved dagens pressemøde klargjorde adm. direktør Jakob Jensen hele forløbet med anførerbindet ’One Love’, der sætter fokus på diversitet og anti-diskrimination - et klart universelt budskab.

FIFA havde først gjort det klart, der var tale om en bøde til forbundene. En sanktion, forbundene accepterede. Blot dagen inden Danmarks åbningskamp d. 22. november mod Tunesien truede FIFA ikke blot med økonomiske sanktioner men derimod sportslige. Den mildeste straf var et gult kort til anføreren, men der kunne også være tale om en straf i form af karantæne eller lignende.

Men arbejdet med respekt for de universelle menneskerettigheder i fodboldens verden fortsætter, garanterer adm. direktør Jakob Jensen:

”Selvom FIFA har blokeret vores ønske om at træne i vores trøje med menneskerettighedsbudskabet ’Human Rights for All’ eller spille med ’One Love‘-anførerbindet, så fortsætter vores arbejde og værdier. Og vi arbejder hårdt for at sikre forholdene under VM i forhold til den frie presse og tilskuere, der bliver afvist med regnbuer. Det er fuldstændig uacceptabelt, og derfor fortsætter vi arbejdet med de syv andre nationer i UEFA Working Group,” udtaler Jakob Jensen.

På pressemødet blev det i øvrigt påpeget fra både Jesper Møller, Jakob Jensen og Peter Møller, at spillere og trænere skal have lov at koncentrere sig om fodbold og spørgsmål vedr. det politiske henvises til DBU.

 

English version below 


DBU criticizes FIFA

At today's extraordinary press conference in Qatar, the national Danish Football Association criticized FIFA.


Football director Peter Møller, chairman Jesper Møller and managing director Jakob Jensen were present at today's press conference in Doha.

During recent days, the FIFA World Cup has been far from focusing on football, but just as much about FIFA, Gianni Infantino as president, and the 'One Love'-captain's armband.

Based on this, the Danish Football Federation (DBU) today invited to an extraordinary press conference, where DBU Chairman Jesper Møller, Managing Director Jakob Jensen and Director of Football Peter Møller all participated. At the press conference, DBU severely criticized FIFA, notified that they will not support the re-election of the sitting FIFA President, and provided a detailed presentation of the entire process regarding the 'One Love'-captain's armband.

A vast majority of FIFA's member countries have signed declarations of support for the re-election of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president. Denmark has not and will not sign such a declaration, states DBU Chairman Jesper Møller:

"As a representative of DBU I have been present at five World Cups with Danish participation since 1998. What we have seen during these last months, weeks and days is completely unacceptable and deeply reprehensible. I have voiced our concerns, and it is clear we cannot support the re-election of the current president," explains Jesper Møller.

Sanctions for the usage of the 'One Love'-Captain's Armband

At today's press conference, CEO Jakob Jensen provided a detailed presentation of the entire process regarding the 'One Love'-captain's armband – an armband which focuses on diversity and anti-discrimination – which is a clear universal message.

FIFA had initially made it clear that any usage of the armband would be sanctioned by a fine for the confederations. This was a sanction that the federations could accept. But a single day prior to Denmark's opening match on 22 November against Tunisia, FIFA changed the approach and threatened federations with not only financial sanctions but rather sporting ones. FIFA notified, that the mildest punishment was a yellow card for the captain, but sanctions could also include quarantine or other similar measures.

But our work with respect for universal human rights in the world of football continues, CEO Jakob Jensen guarantees:

"Although FIFA has prohibited our initiative to practice in shirts with the 'Human Rights for All'-message and to play with the 'One Love' captain's armband, our values remain the same and our work ​continues. We will continue to work hard to ensure universally approved and basic human rights for both the free press and for spectators, who have been denied entry into stadiums only because they have been wearing rainbows. This is completely unacceptable, and we will continue to work closely with the seven other nations in a UEFA Working Group on this important subject," Jakob Jensen says.

At today’s press conference both Jesper Møller, Jakob Jensen and Peter Møller highlighted that players and coaches from now must be allowed to concentrate on football and questions regarding political matters is referred to DBU.