Vague, hashtag-friendly and easy to take off: the OneLove armband was the perfect non-protest for the Qatar World Cup
So England didn’t wear the OneLove armband in the end. The gesture was gesture-trumped by Fifa, which gestured towards the referee’s pocket to indicate a yellow card would be forthcoming. Ahead of England’s World Cup opener against Iran yesterday, the Football Association put out a joint statement with other no-longer-participating nations, explaining “we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings”. That “including bookings” really puts it into perspective. #ActivismIsHard.
Without wishing to undermine this heroically short-lived civil rights moment even further, what really is OneLove, with its off-brand Pride rainbow? The whole thing feels as weirdly and carefully vague as the bar orders of soap-opera characters, who walk into pubs and ask simply for “a pint”. A pint of what? OneLove of what?
Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
A year in Westminster with John Crace, Marina Hyde and Armando Iannucci
Join John Crace, Marina Hyde and Armando Iannucci for a look back at another chaotic year in Westminster, live at Kings Place in London, or via livestream.
Wednesday 7 December 2022, 7pm-8.15pm GMT, book tickets here
What Just Happened?! by Marina Hyde (Guardian Faber, £16). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
