After Germany, French minister pushes for human rights gesture at World Cup

France's sports minister has encourd her country's World Cup team to make a symbolic gesture in support of human rights, after FIFA's clampdown on “One Love” armband.

“Is re still a way our French team can continue to express its commitment to human rights? answer is yes,” Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told French television channel Public Sénat. “ Germans showed it.”

Germany’s players covered ir mouths for team photo before ir opening World Cup match on Wednesday. gesture was a response to FIFA’s effective nixing of seven European teams’ plans to wear armbands that were seen as a rebuke to host nation Qatar and its human rights record.

French players will be “free to express mselves," in coming weeks, Oudéa-Castéra said. “y share se values too ... and it's important that y represent m.”

Defending champion France beat Australia 4-1 in its first World Cup match on Tuesday. team plays its next Group D match Saturday against Denmark.