Denmark’s official kits for the 2022 World Cup have been unveiled with kit suppliers Hummel revealing the design is a “protest against Qatar and its human rights record”.
The tournament is being held in the Gulf state this winter, but the country has been dogged by allegations of abuse of migrant workers, including by Amnesty International, and its stance on LGBT rights.
As a result, there have been calls to boycott the competition, although as things stand, no participating nation has chosen to do so.
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Denmark, however, will play mostly in red home shirts and an all-white away shirt which Hummel claims is due to the sportswear giant wishing to “not be visible” at the event.
“With the new Danish national team shirts, we wanted to send a double message,” they posted on Instagram. “They are not only inspired by Euro 92, a tribute to Denmark’s greatest football success, but also a protest against Qatar and its human rights record.
“That’s why we’ve toned down every detail on Denmark’s new World Cup shirts, including our logo and iconic stripes.
“We don’t want to be visible during a tournament that has cost the lives of thousands of people. We support the Danish national team all the way, but that is not the same as supporting Qatar as the host country.
“We believe that sport should bring people together. And when it doesn’t, we want to make a statement.”
In addition, the Danes’ third shirt will be all black, in what Hummel describes as “the color of mourning”, to honor the workers who reportedly died while building some of the stadiums hosting the matches.
The World Cup starts on November 20 with the final on December 18.
Apart from the reported controversies within the host country, the tournament has also been criticized for its schedule, which for the first time will be during the European winter, disrupting domestic leagues around the world.
Denmark have been drawn in Group D and begin their tournament against Tunisia before facing France and then Australia.
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