The DFB strictly handles delicate and contentious matters.

The DFB strictly handles delicate and contentious matters.

"No arguments over armbands: The DFB deals with the controversial matter of the captain's armband differently compared to the World Cup in Qatar earlier before the home Euros. İlkay Gündoğan, the national team's captain, will don a 'Respect' band from UEFA, choosing their own design.

Julian Nagelsmann wants to focus on playing football, and his wish as the national coach will be met. The German Football Association has learned from the disruptive political debates in the past and addressed a potential problem early on before the home Euros. Team captain İlkay Gündoğan will use the official captain's armband of the European Football Union (UEFA) at the Euros. The DFB confirmed this in response to a query from SID and are in alignment with Nagelsmann's long-stated stance.

'"I wish the team was exempted from all debates," the national coach said months ago. Unlike the EM 2021 or the World Cup in Qatar 2022, there were fiery debates about the band on Manuel Neuer's arm which often overshadowed the sporting aspect. A fierce discussion ensued, and the sporting performance took a back seat.

'"Political and social topics lead to debates in a football team where different opinions, cultures, and religions co-exist. These issues often impact performance," shared Nagelsmann. Practically, he asserted, "If Germany plays a good Euros and creates more interest in football among the youth, we'd have served society more by playing well than by a pre-match gesture."

This was a reference to the action where the German team reacted to FIFA's de facto ban of the 'One Love' band in the World Cup opener against Japan. The scene where the professionals held their hands in front of their mouths before the match left an impact. The debate engulfed the entire tournament, and some pinned the group stage elimination on national coach Hansi Flick. At Euros, there were debates about the rainbow colors on Neuer's arm.

Now, the DFB will not create its own design for the band, which they could have applied for as an exception like any other tournament participant. In the friendlies against Ukraine on June 6 in Nuremberg and against Greece on June 7 in Mönchengladbach, Gündoğan will wear the standard black-red-gold armband. At the tournament, the professional of FC Barcelona will wear the UEFA band from the opening game against Scotland in Munich on June 14."

The UEFA band features the UEFA Respect campaign in blue and yellow. The message is about respecting the other side, the coaches and officials, the referees, and the fans while maintaining a clear stand against racism and discrimination of any kind.

Bernd Neuendorf, DFB President, is also aiming to dodge controversial topics before the tournament. The association has promoted sustainability as its central theme, Neuendorf mentioned: "We don't always have to discuss world politics."

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1. Despite the DFB's historical approach to contentious matters, the German Football Association has decided to align with Julian Nagelsmann's wishes and use the UEFA's official captain's armband during the Euros, as confirmed by Ilkay Gündogan's upcoming appearances in friendlies against Ukraine and Greece.
2. The national soccer team, led by captain Ilkay Gündogan, will adhere to the UEFA Respect campaign's message during the Euros by wearing the blue and yellow band emblematic of the campaign on their armbands, emphasizing the importance of respect and unity amidst various cultures and religions.
3. With Bernd Neuendorf, the DFB President, focusing on sustainability as the central theme in the build-up to the Euros, the national team's main objective will not involve further contentious matters, such as political debates, and instead concentrate on achieving top performance and encouraging youth interest in soccer.

Source: www.ntv.de