"They can do more": Roy Keane comments on Germany team photo at World Cup 2022

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Roy Keane says that the Germany team photo protesting the ban of the OneLove armband is no more than "a start", questioning who had "silenced" the players

"They can do more": Roy Keane comments on Germany team photo at World Cup 2022: Germany players cover their mouths in protest as they pose for a team photo during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Image credit: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Roy Keane has discussed Germany's opening World Cup 2022 team photo protest and stated that the team could more.

The Germans all put their hands over their mouths during the team photo before the match, in protest of not being able to wear their OneLove captain's armband. The DFB, the nation's football association, have even threatened legal action. 

“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard,” read a post on the Germany national team Twitter account. 

Roy Keane

Roy Keane doesn't believe that players are doing all they can to protest (Image credit: Getty)

“It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. 

"That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position”.

ITV pundit Ian Wright described the protest as a step in the right direction – and though Roy Keane praised the move, he stated that it still didn't feel like enough to him and that the players had the power to go further. 

"They wanted to wear the armband to put their protest across and I'm delighted for them because they've done something on a global stage," Wright said. "It's a global moment for people to see, for the LGBTQ+ community to see that people are standing with them in solidarity. I hope the other teams do the same."

"It's a gesture, it's a start, I still think they can do a lot more," Keane said. "They say they've been silenced… by who?"

When presenter Mark Pougatch questioned whether the players' own FA had asked them not to wear the armband, Keane was having none of it. 

Manuel Neuer

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was set to wear the OneLove armband before it was banned by FIFA (Image credit: Getty)

"The most important people in football are the supporters and the players," he retorted. "Use your voice! Wear the armband! Leadership is about action, just go and do it! 

"This is going to drag on. Do it! Listen, it's a gesture, it's a start, they can do more."

Keane recently told Harry Kane and other captains to "take their medicine" and accept the disciplinary action of donning the protest armband. 

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.