Former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum has said that he is prepared to walk off the pitch in support of LGBT rights, as the Netherlands prepare to play in Budapest.
The Paris St-Germain midfielder is preparing to play Czech Republic in front of a full house in the Hungarian capital, in the Euro 2020 round of 16.
There has been focus on the country since Prime Minister Viktor Orban cancelled a trip to Munich as there were plans to have the lights surrounding the stadium to be rainbow, the colours of the Pride parades.
“It is not not just against Hungary,” Wijnaldum said.
“The armband means a lot because we stand for diversity – one love means everybody is a part of it and everybody should be free to be who they are.”
“In our opinion [the right to be yourself] has been encroached upon,” Wijnaldum said. “As players we have a podium to do whatever we can to help.”
Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum was critical of UEFA, and said that he would leave the pitch if his teammates were all of the same mindset.
“UEFA should be there to protect the players and make the decision,” Wijnaldum said.
“It should not be left to the players. Players often get punished for protecting themselves so UEFA needs to take a lead role in this.
“I have said I don’t really know how I will react in such a situation. I thought first that I would walk off the pitch but maybe not now because maybe the opponent will think: ‘Let them [the fans] throw racist slurs and they will walk off the pitch.’
"It could be the case that I will walk off the pitch but I will speak with the players about it first.”
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