Orkun Kokcu, who plays as a midfielder for Dutch club Feyenoord, reportedly chose not to wear the captain’s armband supporting the LGBTQ+ community because it makes him feel “uncomfortable”, reports The Mirror.
Over the weekend, teams in the Eredivisie, the top division of Dutch professional football, were urged to wear the OneLove armband. Gernot Trauner, a teammate, took over as captain after Kokcu declined, consenting to wear the inclusivity armband during the 3-1 road victory over rivals Alkmaar.
Before the kick-off of Sunday’s match, Kokcu said: “I have decided not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband this round. I think it’s important to emphasise that I respect everyone regardless of religion, background or preference. I believe that everyone is free to do what they want or feel. I fully understand the importance of this action, but because of my religious beliefs, I don’t feel the right person to support this.“
“That’s why I don’t feel comfortable wearing this captain’s armband. I can imagine some people are disappointed with this. That is absolutely not my intention, although I realise that I may not immediately be able to take away that feeling with these words. But I hope that my choice for religious reasons will also be respected.”
What is ‘OneLove football campaign’ in support of the LGBTQ community?
Kokcu contributed to his team’s 3-1 victory by scoring a penalty and registering an assist, which could increase interest from Arsenal, who are apparently interested in signing the midfielder. Arsenal will apparently have to pay £50 million for Orkun Kokcu, while Real Madrid is also rumoured to be keen.
The OneLove campaign was launched in advance of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as a result of the dismal human rights record of the nation, notably its persecution of LGBTQ+ communities. To encourage diversity, inclusivity, and anti-discrimination, OneLove armbands will be worn. England’s captain Harry Kane will wear the armbands, which have a heart-shaped pattern and numerous stripes in different colours, during the World Cup in Qatar.
* Article from: firstsportz.com
