Women's Euro: Why aren't the French team wearing the rainbow armband?

Having been banned from the pitches for several tournaments, the rainbow armband, banned by FIFA in Qatar 2022 and the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand , and absent from the men's Euro 2024 competition ( although UEFA authorises it ), has resurfaced in stadiums for the Women's Euro 2025, which is currently taking place in Switzerland.

Among the sixteen qualified countries, nine teams wore the rainbow armband (worn by their captain), a symbol of inclusion and solidarity with LGBT+ communities. These were Switzerland, the host country of the competition, as well as Germany, England, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Wales, and Sweden.

France is therefore not one of the teams that displays the rainbow colors, which according to UEFA symbolize "a more just and egalitarian society, which accepts everyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, gender and sexual orientation." In the first two matches against England and Poland, captains Sakina Karchaoui and Grace Geyoro opted for a fluorescent yellow armband bearing the inscription "RESPECT."

To justify this choice, the French Football Federation (FFF) mentioned to CheckNews a logistical misunderstanding. According to its press officer, Laura Goutry, the staff of the French women's team "had not specifically received the information that it was possible to wear this armband," proposed by UEFA to the competing teams. "Either we missed the information, or we did not receive it," she explains, while assuring that this absence "is in no way a deliberate choice." During the Blues' first two group matches, their English and Welsh opponents wore the rainbow armband.

More broadly, the FFF highlights a difference in cultural approach: "France, by nature, is a little less committed to these issues than the United States or Norway," the spokesperson asserts. Unlike other, more militant women's teams, the French national team does not spontaneously take a position on social issues. She promises, however, that a discussion will be held with the captains after the group stage, "to suggest to them whether they wish to do so or not."

Other countries that do not wear the rainbow colors are Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal.

In contrast, the decision seems to have been a natural one in Germany. "We are delighted that this is possible," German captain Giulia Gwinn told Bild newspaper. "For us, there is no doubt about it, there is no discussion if the opportunity arises. As a team, we want to convey these values ​​abroad and we are happy to be able to do so on this stage."

It should be noted that according to a count carried out by the media Outsports , which specializes in queer news in sport, at least 78 of the 368 players present at Euro 2025 are openly LGBT+.