<p>Germany's players covered their mouths for the team photo before their World Cup opener against Japan on Wednesday in protest at FIFA's refusal to allow rainbow-themed armbands.</p>.<p>Captains of seven European teams had planned to wear the anti-discrimination armbands during the tournament in Qatar as part of a campaign for diversity.</p>.<p>But they backed down over the threat of disciplinary action from football's governing body, including yellow cards.</p>.<p>The rainbow armbands had been viewed as a symbolic protest against laws in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.</p>.<p>Germany's football federation tweeted in English moments after the photo protest: "It wasn't about making a political statement -- human rights are non-negotiable.</p>.<p>"Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position."</p>.<p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser did wear the "OneLove" armband as she watched the game sitting next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.</p>.<p>She said FIFA's ban was a "huge mistake".</p>.<p>Not only players, but fans should also be allowed to show pro-LGBTQ symbols "openly", Faeser told reporters in Qatar.</p>.<p>Supporters should "make a decision for themselves" about whether they wanted to wear the symbols, Faeser added.</p>.<p>The German government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said earlier in the day in Berlin that FIFA's decision to bar captains from wearing the "OneLove" armbands was "very unfortunate".</p>.<p>"The rights of LGBTQ people are non-negotiable," Hebestreit said at a regular press conference.</p>.<p>Security staff at the World Cup have ordered spectators to remove items of clothing featuring rainbow logos.</p>.<p>Underlining tensions at the tournament over the issue, Belgium's Jan Vertonghen said on Tuesday that he was "afraid" to talk about human rights.</p>.<p>Vertonghen, speaking on the eve of Belgium's opening game against Canada later Wednesday, said he did not feel comfortable.</p>.<p>"I'm afraid if I say something about this I might not be able to play tomorrow," the defender said.</p>.<p>"It's an experience I've never felt in football before. I feel controlled. I'm afraid to even say something about this.</p>.<p>"We're just saying normal things about racism and discrimination and if you can't even say things about it, that says it all.</p>.<p>"I want to appear on the pitch tomorrow, so I'll leave it at that."</p>
<p>Germany's players covered their mouths for the team photo before their World Cup opener against Japan on Wednesday in protest at FIFA's refusal to allow rainbow-themed armbands.</p>.<p>Captains of seven European teams had planned to wear the anti-discrimination armbands during the tournament in Qatar as part of a campaign for diversity.</p>.<p>But they backed down over the threat of disciplinary action from football's governing body, including yellow cards.</p>.<p>The rainbow armbands had been viewed as a symbolic protest against laws in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.</p>.<p>Germany's football federation tweeted in English moments after the photo protest: "It wasn't about making a political statement -- human rights are non-negotiable.</p>.<p>"Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position."</p>.<p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser did wear the "OneLove" armband as she watched the game sitting next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.</p>.<p>She said FIFA's ban was a "huge mistake".</p>.<p>Not only players, but fans should also be allowed to show pro-LGBTQ symbols "openly", Faeser told reporters in Qatar.</p>.<p>Supporters should "make a decision for themselves" about whether they wanted to wear the symbols, Faeser added.</p>.<p>The German government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said earlier in the day in Berlin that FIFA's decision to bar captains from wearing the "OneLove" armbands was "very unfortunate".</p>.<p>"The rights of LGBTQ people are non-negotiable," Hebestreit said at a regular press conference.</p>.<p>Security staff at the World Cup have ordered spectators to remove items of clothing featuring rainbow logos.</p>.<p>Underlining tensions at the tournament over the issue, Belgium's Jan Vertonghen said on Tuesday that he was "afraid" to talk about human rights.</p>.<p>Vertonghen, speaking on the eve of Belgium's opening game against Canada later Wednesday, said he did not feel comfortable.</p>.<p>"I'm afraid if I say something about this I might not be able to play tomorrow," the defender said.</p>.<p>"It's an experience I've never felt in football before. I feel controlled. I'm afraid to even say something about this.</p>.<p>"We're just saying normal things about racism and discrimination and if you can't even say things about it, that says it all.</p>.<p>"I want to appear on the pitch tomorrow, so I'll leave it at that."</p>