Irishman and Wales FA Chief Executive Noel Mooney has said he is furious with FIFA over the controversial OneLove captain armband issue.
The Irishman was speaking as FIFA has the issue of players protesting Qatar's controversial LGBTQ+ laws have been heavily condemned by teams at the tournament.
It was originally planned by captains of the sides at the World Cup that they would wear the OneLove armband to show their support for those affected by the issue, but puled out in the final moments in the risk of receiving punishment for their actions.
This was heavily condemned and questioned the level of support they had for the cause. Especially when Iran refused to sing the national anthem.
Noel Mooney Furious With FIFA
Among those to condemned FIFA's decision to possibly sanction teams is Wales chief executive Noel Mooney, who is from Ireland.
Mooney is currently in Qatar, and spoke to ITV following Wales 1-1 draw with the USA, where captain Gareth Bale was set to wear the OneLove armband, but pulled out due to possibly being booked.
Mooney has now revealed that Wales had this planned to wear it for months, but were pulled out due to the possible consequences.
'We were told this was going to be a really inclusive, welcoming, warm World Cup - that's not what I've seen.'
Noel Mooney, the Welsh FA's chief executive, told @ChloeKeedyITV he is 'furious' at FIFA over its 'cheap' decision to ban OneLove armbandshttps://t.co/919jyPFdsm pic.twitter.com/4RwSWYK4WE— ITV News (@itvnews) November 23, 2022
"For months and months we knew we were going to wear the Onelove armband, and to lay that one on us is pretty cheap and pretty low to be frank and we are really disappointed.
We've given FIFA everything we got in terms of how furious we are about this decision to do this. We think it's a terrible decision.
I absolutely understand why everybody would be upset about the OneLove armband not being there, but there is no way we could ask Gareth Bale to take a yellow or red card at his first World Cup.
Anybody who thinks players should take a red card just like that, they don't really understand the psych of a professional athlete who's going out to play the biggest moment of their lives.
We said that we would take fines, except whatever sanctions came, but when it turned at the very last moment to specific sporting sanctions, that would've stopped out players taking to the field potentially, is a different thing.
Players voices were taken away by the armband, and for that we are deeply disappointed. "
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