Roy Keane says that the Germany team photo protesting the ban of the OneLove armband is no more than "a start", questioning who had "silenced" the players
(Image credit: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Roy Keane has discussed Germany's opening World Cup 2022 team photo protest and stated that the team could more.
“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard,” read a post on the Germany national team Twitter account.
Roy Keane doesn't believe that players are doing all they can to protest (Image credit: Getty)
“It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case.
"That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position”.
ITV pundit Ian Wright described the protest as a step in the right direction – and though Roy Keane praised the move, he stated that it still didn't feel like enough to him and that the players had the power to go further.
We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.November 23, 2022
"They wanted to wear the armband to put their protest across and I'm delighted for them because they've done something on a global stage," Wright said. "It's a global moment for people to see, for the LGBTQ+ community to see that people are standing with them in solidarity. I hope the other teams do the same."
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"It's a gesture, it's a start, I still think they can do a lot more," Keane said. "They say they've been silenced… by who?"
When presenter Mark Pougatch questioned whether the players' own FA had asked them not to wear the armband, Keane was having none of it.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was set to wear the OneLove armband before it was banned by FIFA (Image credit: Getty)
"The most important people in football are the supporters and the players," he retorted. "Use your voice! Wear the armband! Leadership is about action, just go and do it!
"This is going to drag on. Do it! Listen, it's a gesture, it's a start, they can do more."
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
