FIFA Block Denmark's "Human Rights For All" World Cup Training Shirts

Denmark's request to wear training shirts emblazoned with the message "human rights for all" at the World Cup in Qatar has been rejected by FIFA.

Fifa Block "Human Rights For All" Shirts

FIFA have denied Denmark permission to train with "human rights for all" printed on their shirts at the World Cup on the grounds that the rules say that team equipment must not carry any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.

President of the Danish FA, Jakub Jensen (pictured above), had this to say:

“We have today got a message from Fifa that the training shirts our players were to train in, where it would say ‘human rights for all’ at the stomach [of the shirt], have been rejected due to technical reasons, which is regrettable. We believe the message ‘human rights for all’ is universal and not a political call, but something everyone can support."

Hummel Explain Why Denmark Kits Feature "Invisible" Logos

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The criticism of Qatar has been intensifying the closer we get to the tournament, with their mistreatment of migrant workers and their laws on homosexuality coming under fire most frequently. FIFA and Qatar are keen to divert attention away from the human rights abuses and have urged participating nations to "focus on the football", but they are not having much success.

In the months leading up to the tournament, several teams such as Germany and Norway wore slogan-bearing t-shirts in the warm up before matches. Last month, Denmark's kit supplier Hummel released the team's World cup shirts, rendering their logos "invisible" as they do not want to be visibly associated with the tournament, and the Australia team recently released a video calling for reforms in the country.

An investigation into the conditions of stadium construction workers by human rights group Equidem found evidence of "persistent and widespread labour rights violations”, which include nationality-based discrimination, illegal recruitment practices and, in some cases, unpaid wages.

FIFA declined to comment on the "human rights for all" shirts when contacted by the Gaurdian. Qatar's supreme committee, who organised the tournament, did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment on the Equidem report.

Are you surprised that the shirts have been banned? Do you agree with Jensen that the slogan is not a political statement? Comment below.