Advertisement

John Fashanu slammed over saying World Cup players shouldn't wear OneLove armbands

John Fashanu wants Gladiators to return to TV. (Photo by Fred Duval/FilmMagic)
John Fashanu shared his thoughts on Good Morning Britain. (FilmMagic)

John Fashanu has come under fire after his comments on the World Cup controversy during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

There has been a lot of discussion around the tournament in Qatar – where homosexuality is illegal – and over whether players should wear the OneLove rainbow armband.

The TV presenter and former footballer, 60, weighed in on the ITV show, saying politics and football should be kept separate.

Read more: World Cup: Why is the OneLove armband so controversial for Qatar and Fifa?

He asked: "The OneLove armband, what has that got to do with football? How did that merge into the world of football?

"Politics and football, we try to keep them away from each other because if politics goes into football, which is what is happening, the politics go up and up and up and then eventually they will win. So I’m just very disappointed."

Fashanu, whose late brother was gay, went on: "I don’t think they (federations) should have even threatened (to wear the armbands) because I just don’t think it’s got anything to do with football at all.

"We’ve said it time and time again, if they’re going to award Qatar the opportunity to have this wonderful opportunity for football of course, you would like to think that everybody would adhere to the rules and regulations of the country. Simple."

* JOHN FASHANU - ASTON VILLA
Josh Fashanu is a former footballer. (PA)

The star said that "whatever the rules and the regulations are of that country, whatever they might be, adhere to them".

"Some of them might be good, some of them might be bad," he went on.

"But respect the country and say, 'OK that’s fine. I can’t do this, I can’t do that, that’s fine'."

A woman sews Velcro on to a One Love armband, which is banned by FIFA at the World Cup Qatar 2022, in Utrecht, Netherlands November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Staff
There has been controversy around the OneLove armband. (REUTERS)

Many viewers didn't agree.

"Then places which have rules like that shouldn’t host international tournaments," one tweeted.

"Omg! I can’t believe what I’m listening to," said another.

Read more: Robert Rinder slams David Beckham 'for putting money over morals' for Qatar World Cup

One posted: "No if you hold an international tournament you should expect to be held to international law and unfortunately for Qatar that means accepting LGBTQ people."

But another viewer tweeted: "Let’s just keep football as football. The game we all love to watch."

Watch: World Cup: Harry Kane joins England training session ahead of USA group match