‘Putting everything at risk’: Kerr makes strong call on World Cup rainbow armbands

Australian captain Sam Kerr says she will not wear a rainbow captain’s armband at the World Cup to avoid “putting everything at risk”.

FIFA on Sunday unveiled a range of eight different armbands carrying social messages which are permitted to be worn at the tournament, but the rainbow OneLove armband is not among them after the design was prohibited at last year’s Men’s World Cup in socially conservative Qatar.

Kerr said she had not been expecting to be able to wear the rainbow armband without being booked following the decision in Qatar, although she would have liked to in a show of solidarity and support to the LGBTQ community.

The Matildas superstar said the risk of picking up yellow cards from donning the band was too great and would threaten to derail Australia’s campaign at their home tournament.

“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,” Kerr said.

“But I think you saw with the Men’s World Cup, Harry Kane for example, first game if he had worn it, yellow card, if he’d got a yellow card again, he would’ve been sent off.

“So for me it’s not worth the risk; putting the team at risk; putting everything at risk; and there will be multiple opportunities where I get to use my voice for things.”

Kerr said the Matildas’ success at the tournament hinged upon complying with FIFA’s rules.

“We kind of expected it, the Men’s World Cup, the Women’s World Cup … being honest I didn’t expect them to change (the rule),” she said.

“We would have liked to have worn it but I’m not going to put this team at risk, I’m not putting the tournament at risk … we have to abide by the rules that we’re given really.”