Harry Kane to DEFY Fifa and wear One Love rainbow armband in England’s World Cup games as LGBTQ+ row escalates

HARRY KANE is set to defy Fifa by wearing the One Love rainbow armband in England’s World Cup opener against Iran.

The decision puts the Football Association on a collision course with the world governing body and could result in a fine, as well as a row that would run and run.

Fifa has tried to outmanoeuvre England and other nations planning to take political stands during the tournament.

Football bosses asked teams to use their armbands to promote various causes at different stages of the tournament in Qatar.

But Kane and England will stick to plans to use the rainbow symbol show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in a country where homosexuality remains illegal.

An FA spokesperson said: “We respect Fifa’s armbands, but we are committed to the One Love armband.”

Fifa is attempting to dilute the armband protests by European teams including England and Wales by ordering ALL nations to wear official sleeve slogans.

And Fifa Law 4.5, as formulated by the International Football Association Board, states: "Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.

"Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer's logo.

"For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA."

That means both Kane and the Football Association could face action if they go ahead with the rainbow armband.

The Denmark team are also planning to defy Fifa and wear the One Love armband.

Denmark's Christian Eriksen said: “We are one of the countries wearing it.

"We will carry on wearing it and then face whatever the consequences are.

“We are here as footballers, to play football, that is our focus but we also want to stand up for what we believe in."

And just a day before the tournament kicks off on Sunday, world chiefs have introduced their OWN armbands - with all 32 competing teams expected to comply.

Fifa announced it had “partnered with United Nations agencies to run social campaigns during the World Cup to harness the power of football to spread positive messages globally”.

President Gianni Infantino had faced a backlash after calling for competing sides to “focus on football” rather than addressing issues such as human and gay rights and the treatment of migrant workers.

Now, Fifa said: “Attention will be focused on the football.

“However FIFA also recognises that our sport should use the unique platform our competition provides to make a positive impact on society.”

The world body added: “Messages promoting health, unity and non-discrimination will be sent to the billions of worldwide viewers across multiple channels.

“These campaigns have taken into account feedback received from our member associations who, like Fifa, are committed to using the power of football to effect positive change around the world.”

Each round of matches will see captains expected to wear an armband with a different message, with “supporting content” on LED screens around the pitch, stadium giant screens and on flags.

But of the seven messages, it is only at the quarter-final stage, where the slogan will be “#NoDiscrimination”, that the human rights and sexual freedom issues will be touched on.

The first round of games will see the message “#FootballUnitesTheWorld” with other issues including protecting the planet, children, education and for the final “Football Is Joy, Passion, Hope, Love and Peace - #FootballUnitesTheWorld”.

Fifa added: “By uniting behind these campaigns, Fifa and its 211 member associations will showcase to every corner of the world that, despite our differences, football has the power as a global force to bring people together for the common good.”

But it appeared to be a blatant effort to neutralise the European-led campaign, with extra pressure being put on the nations to drop the planned One Love armband.

SunSport understand the “working group” of European nations, including FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, are meeting in Doha this morning to decide their collective response.