Fans won’t believe new FIFA ruling which will cause confusion about West Ham. Football’s world governing body FIFA has passed a ruling which could be set to cause a lot of confusion about West Ham. Everyone knows by now that West Ham are massive everywhere they go.
But somebody forgot to tell FIFA.
Like UEFA, world football’s governing body don’t have the best of reputations among football fans.
There may be bigger clubs in world football but West Ham are well known abroad.
West Ham’s badge in particular is widely recognised. The unmistakable crossed Hammers on the crest is from the club’s origins as Thames Ironworks shipbuilders.
New FIFA ruling will cause confusion about West Ham. West Ham fans are famous for doing the crossed Hammers gesture with their arms.
Players also do it too on a regular basis as they celebrate with supporters lapping it up. Indeed some non West Ham players even do it – just ask Jhon Duran. The Villa striker did it when on a live social media video when it looked like he was set to join the Hammers in the summer.
Down the years a number of footballers who support West Ham but play elsewhere have also done it to Millwall fans when scoring against the club’s bitter rivals.
The likes of Jonjo Shelvey when at Blackpool and Alex Pritchard at Sunderland spring to mind. So fans won’t believe a new FIFA ruling which will cause much confusion about West Ham.
Crossed Hammers gesture becomes new FIFA symbol. FIFA has now officially announced that a global crossed arms gesture – just like West Ham’s crossed Hammers – will now be used instead of taking the knee against discrimination.
“Following its unanimous approval at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on 17 May 2024, a global crossed arms gesture to signal racist abuse is now part of football protocol at FIFA tournaments,” FIFA have announced.
“The No Racism Gesture is designed to empower players, referees and team officials to take a stand against racism. By crossing their hands at the wrists, players can signal directly to the referee that they are being targeted by racist abuse, prompting the referee to start the anti-discrimination three-step procedure.
“No Discrimination is an awareness, action and education campaign that aims to rid the football world of discrimination in any and every form.
“Discrimination affects millions of people every day, stifling opportunities, harming physical and mental health, wasting human talent and accentuating social tensions and inequalities. FIFA has teamed up with UN Human Rights to champion the fight against discrimination.”
Cynics might suggest sarcastically that it’s not like FIFA to fail to think something through properly.
This will undoubtedly lead to plenty of confusion now when players do the gesture. So if you see entire teams doing the crossed Hammers salute in the future, they’re probably not new West Ham fan recruits.
Obviously the message behind the gesture is an important one. But perhaps a different salute could have been chosen?
