Germany s players made a statement in their pre-match team photo before facing Japan as they covered their mouths in protest at being blocked from wearing an anti-discrimination armband.
The action was taken after FIFA threatened sanctions against teams and their captains if they went ahead with their plan to wear the LGBTQ OneLove armband.
Rewe, the multinational grocery chain, has ended its long-term sponsorship of Germany’s national team in protest of FIFA’s role in several European sides deciding not to wear ‘OneLove’ anti-discrimination armbands at the World Cup.
On Monday lunchtime, just a matter of hours.