One of the armbands is about promoting ‘inclusion’,and uses the same colours as the ‘One Love’ armband that FIFA controversially banned players from wearing during the men’s World Cup in Qatar - a mesh of red,black,green,which represents race and heritage,plus pink,yellow and blue,which represent all gender identities and sexual orientations.
It means that captains like Kerr will be unable to wear armbands featuring the rainbow colours of the LGBT Pride Flag – as the Matildas did in February against Spain,when they became the first national team to wear rainbow numbers on their jerseys to celebrate Sydney WorldPride 2023 – without risking the ire of the match referee,who will be compelled to show a yellow card to any rule-flouters.
“Firstly,we kind of expected it,” said Kerr,who is in a relationship with United States international Kristie Mewis.
“I didn’t expect them to change it. Obviously,we would love to wear it ... like most of the teams in the whole world,everyone has voiced that they would love to wear it.
“But I think you saw at the men’s World Cup,Harry Kane,for example – first game,if he had worn it,yellow card. If he got a yellow card in the game,he would have been sent off. For me,it’s not worth the risk of putting the team at risk,putting the tournament at risk,putting everything at risk.
“There will be multiple opportunities where we get to use our voice like we did in that game. And there’ll be multiple opportunities where I get to use my voice for things.