FIFA has granted Argentina a special request just days before their World Cup semi-final against England, sparking accusations of preferential treatment. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) sought and received authorisation for players and coaching staff to wear black armbands during their quarter-final match against Switzerland, in tribute to legendary captain Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, who died at age 89 shortly before the game.
Argentina's Tribute Approved
Rattin captained Argentina at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups and is considered an iconic figure in the nation's sporting history. The black armbands were worn throughout the match, which Argentina won controversially, setting up a blockbuster tie with England. FIFA's approval of the request has been seen as a gesture of respect, but the decision has drawn criticism due to inconsistencies with similar requests from other teams.
France's Request Denied
Earlier in the tournament, the French Football Federation (FFF) requested permission for players to wear black armbands in memory of Didier Deschamps' late mother. Deschamps had returned to France for the funeral and missed the match against Norway. However, FIFA denied the request. Norway's stand-in manager Guy Stephan presented Deschamps with a bouquet of flowers as a gesture of condolence, but former England striker Gary Lineker led the backlash against FIFA's decision.
Lineker told L'Équipe: "The loss of his mother is a tragedy. It's truly sad, and I still can't believe FIFA didn't allow the players to wear black armbands." France had also prematurely announced a minute's silence for Deschamps' mother, but a moment of remembrance had already been scheduled for victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela, where over 900 people died.
Additional Request for Kit Change
Argentina has also made another special request ahead of the England match, unrelated to the tragedies, asking to wear their all-blue kit instead of their traditional blue and white striped shirt. They have worn the blue and white colours in every match at the World Cup except one, when they beat Jordan in the group stages. The outcome of this request remains unknown.
