Tue Nov 19 22:38:00 UTC 2024: ## German Football Star Kimmich Regrets 2022 World Cup Protest
**BERLIN** – Bayern Munich and German national team midfielder Joshua Kimmich has expressed regret over the team’s controversial protest at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The team covered their mouths in a pre-match photo to protest FIFA’s ban on ‘OneLove’ armbands supporting LGBTQ+ rights, a move now viewed as counterproductive by Kimmich.
Speaking ahead of Germany’s UEFA Nations League matches, Kimmich stated that while players should uphold certain values, constantly expressing political opinions detracts from the enjoyment of the tournament. He felt the protest ultimately damaged the team’s image and overshadowed the World Cup’s organization.
His comments come in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s expected selection to host the 2034 World Cup, a decision met with human rights concerns. Kimmich acknowledged the complexities of applying Western values universally and suggested focusing on domestic human rights issues before criticizing other nations. He emphasized the importance of allowing future players to focus on the competition itself, rather than political activism.
The 2022 protest, which involved several European teams, was intended to challenge FIFA’s suppression of political statements. At the time, then-coach Hansi Flick stated the players aimed to highlight FIFA’s silencing of teams. However, Kimmich’s retrospective view suggests the protest was ultimately ineffective and potentially harmful to the team’s image. He believes that political matters should be left to political experts.
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