England captain Harry Kane wore a £535,000 rainbow watch in Qatar amidst a row with FIFA and Qatar over LGBT rights.
Tensions are still simmering between FIFA, Qatar, and Western FAs following the faceoff on the rights of LGBT communities and an alleged clampdown on human rights by the Qatari government.
Before the World Cup, Western FAs have planned to launch OneLove campaigns during World Cup games protesting Qatar’s discrimination against LGBT+ communities and violation of human rights.
To effect the protest and raise awareness in the Arab state, the concerned FAs which was led by England and Wales asked their team captains to wear the OneLove Campaign armband.
The move was opposed by FIFA, who wrote all the FAs participating in the World Cup to refrain from planned protests and focus on football.
The FAs insisted on wearing the armband and fell out with FIFA who threatened to issue yellow cards and suspend erring team captains.
Before the kick-off of the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivered a passionate speech slamming the West of hypocrisy and reasserting FIFA’s resolve to deal with captains who float the OneLove armband during games.
The face-off continued until the last minute when the concerned FAs were ready to kick off their World Cup campaigns.
According to reports, after launching a rival armband promoting tolerance and unity, FIFA sent officials to the national team camps and reaffirmed their decision to suspend team captains with OneLove armbands.
The move was a big blow to the planned protest during matches by the Western FAs. They had to hurry on last-minute round tables to settle the dispute.
Finally, FIFA succeeded in forcing the FAs to abandon the OneLove armbands before their World Cup games kicked off.
After abandoning the OneLove armband, they are still mauling over the perceived defeat and opposition by FIFA.
Germany managed to sent a defiant message to Fifa with an iconic team photo ahead of their shocking World Cup defeat to Japan.
Germany players lined up for the pre-match team photo and all covered their mouths with their right hand – an act to show they had been silenced by the tournament organisers.
Now, England captain Kane has joined the league of defiants to send a message to FIFA and Qatar after the clampdown on the OneLove armband.
Before the 6-2 demolition of Iran in their World Cup opener, the Tottenham forward led the Three Lions squad from Gareth Southgate into the dressing room at the Khalifa International Stadium wearing a £535,000 Rainbow Rolex.
The Daytona Rainbow watch is reportedly set with 36 baguette-cut rainbow sapphires on bezel, 56 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case and 11 baguette-cut rainbow colored sapphires as hour markers.
It was first released in 2012 in 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold and is said to cost a whooping £535million.
While Harry Kane was spotted with his costly defiant watch, news has began to filter in of Qatari Police clamping down on erring fans spotted with rainbow apparels in World Cup stadiums.
However, FIFA has reportedly asked Qatar to stop harassing fans with rainbow colors. This is coming a bit late after the World’s football governing body openly aligned with Qatar ahead of the tournament on the hotly-debated issue.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has cleared the air on Harry Kane’s injury ahead of England’s FIFA World Cup clash against USA.
Harry Kane picked up an injury in England’s opening win over Iran. But Southgate has confirmed that he is fit for the United States game and may likely make the starting lineup.
