BREAKING: Belgium banned from wearing ANOTHER shirt by FIFA for a new reason
Belgium have reportedly been forced to abandon another piece of their World Cup apparel - a day after being told to change their away kit.
The Red Devils start their Group F campaign against Canada on Wednesday evening, but they've already been a huge talking point in Qatar.
Belgium were among the nations planning to wear a 'One Love' captain's armband in support of LGBT+ rights during the tournament.
Eden Hazard wore the armband in a friendly against Egypt earlier this month. However, FIFA threatened to sanction anyone who wore it at the World Cup with a booking.
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Belgium were then forced to change their white away shirt on Monday, 48 hours before their first group game.
The word 'Love' was set to be embroidered on the collar. Following FIFA's intervention, Belgium had to remove it.
Per Voetbal Belgie, another piece of uniform will be outright banned from being worn.
Belgium won't be allowed to wear their pre-match shirt as it's too 'colourful'. The decision is said to have infuriated Belgian FA CEO Peter Bossaert, who spoke at length about the white shirt drama on Monday.
He told reporters: "We are frustrated with FIFA's decision, but we cannot put our players in positions where they can receive sporting sanctions.
"So that is why we asked them not to play with the 'OneLove' captain's armband at the World Cup.
"We were willing to pay fines, but we don't want to put our players at risk of getting a card or even having to leave the field.
"We had already informed FIFA in September of our desire to play with to play the armband, but there was never any response.
"We have been in solidarity with the participating countries all along by wearing the band. You can't just break that solidarity now.
"England was the first country to play after the sanction was announced. It is sportingly unfair to ask them to resist that pressure from FIFA."
Alongside Belgium and Canada in Group F are Morocco and Croatia. It's likely the current generation's last chance of winning a major competition.
Belgium came third at the 2018 World Cup but underwhelmed at Euro 2020, being eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners Italy.
Topics: Belgium, Football World Cup, Qatar
Daniel Marland