FIFA accused of snubbing referees from ‘OneLove nations’
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EXCLUSIVE: FIFA has yet to use a referee from a ‘OneLove’ nation at the World Cup, prompting allegations of officials being snubbed…with Premier League duo Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor among those still awaiting first assignments
- In recent weeks there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the OneLove bracelets
- A number of European parties had suggested the idea of wearing the sleeve in Qatar
- But FIFA issued a ban on captains wearing the rainbow sleeve during matches
- They have now been accused of rejecting referees from those countries
- Premier League duo Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor have yet to perform
FIFA has not used a single referee from a ‘OneLove nation’ during this World Cup, prompting allegations that officials including Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor are being censured.
The highly regarded Premier League pair are among those still waiting for their first assignments, with Germany’s Daniel Siebert and Danny Makkelie of the Netherlands also yet to lead a game.
Seven countries added their names to last week’s statement about the banned OneLove bracelet. The associations of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands collectively criticized FIFA for threatening their captains with sporting sanctions on the eve of the tournament.
All seven countries backed down from plans to wear the bracelets, which feature a rainbow design and promote anti-discrimination.
Sources have told Sportsmail that FIFA’s sidelining of Oliver, Taylor, Makkelie and Siebert so far has raised eyebrows in refereeing circles. None of them have even been assigned a fourth official position in Qatar.
Sportsmail asked FIFA yesterday why they had been overlooked and football’s world governing body replied that Siebert would oversee Tunisia against Australia tomorrow.
Premier League referee Michael Oliver has yet to be awarded a match in the World Cup
Issues surrounding the OneLove bracelet (pictured on Harry Kane) continue to ripple around Doha
The French Stephanie Frappart (R) was the fourth official for the game between Portugal and Ghana
The weekend assignments were not confirmed last night, but it seems that Oliver, Taylor and Makkelie, the Dutchman who oversaw England’s Euro 2020 semi-final victory over Denmark, will have to wait for their first matches.
Similarly, no female officials have yet refereed a World Cup match, but France’s Stephanie Frappart and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga have acted as fourth officials.
Frappart became the first female official to work at a men’s World Cup in Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland on Tuesday, and Mukansanga was credited with France’s 4-1 victory over Australia later the same day.
Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita will be the fourth official tonight for England’s second group game against the USA.
Pierluigi Collina, the president of FIFA’s refereeing committee, last week pushed for female officials to be nominated for all matches, including those of Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Taylor is another England official who has yet to play in a World Cup match this year