The US men’s football team (USMNT) has unveiled a pride flag inspired crest to be used in the team’s Qatar training camp — and right-wingers are raging.
To be clear, the badge will not be worn on any of the shirts, training kit, or be used in any promotional material. It will simply feature on the wall of the team’s training facility to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community who, let’s remember, could face the death penalty in host country Qatar.
“It’s a sign of our values and what we represent as the men’s national team,” said goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
“We’re a group that believes in inclusivity, and we’ll continue to project that going forward.”
“We’re a group that believes in inclusivity, and we’ll continue to project that going forward.”
— @SeanJohnGK— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 14, 2022
FIFA had written to the 32 teams involved in the tournament — including the Socceroos — to warn them of making comments about some of Qatar’s draconian and discriminatory laws.
“At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs, without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world,” read the letter.
“One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity. No one people or culture or nation is ‘better’ than any other. This principle is the very foundation stone of mutual respect and non-discrimination. And this is also one of the core values of football.”
The letter added: “Please, let’s now focus on the football!”
However, right-wingers in the US have clearly taken umbrage to the USMNT’s fairly milquetoast statement on gay rights.
Noted bandwagon-jumper and prospective lib-owner, Ben Shapiro had this to say:
Incredibly discriminatory — this flag is not trans inclusive! https://t.co/5deQca4XcP
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 14, 2022
Local Florida Republican politician Evan Power had this to say:
Woke embarrassment: the colors 🇺🇸 https://t.co/TVAsZoid9c
— Evan Power (@EvanPower) November 14, 2022
Basketball pundit Jacob Christner, who subscribes to Twitter Blue, added:
This woke garbage is beyond exhausting https://t.co/16Olt5Knrp
— Jacob Christner (@JakeThePundit) November 14, 2022
And, in proof that a broken clock is right twice a day, conservative journalist and podcaster (obviously), Derek Hunter was correct in his assessment that the USMNT does, in fact, suck at soccer.
Maybe they should focus on not sucking at soccer rather than worrying about virtue signaling. https://t.co/qZP2BFjYKH
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) November 14, 2022
Lead image credit: @USMNT on Twitter.
