Misinformation Circulates: Cristiano Ronaldo Was Not Sole Captain Refusing Rainbow Armband at Euro 2020

The Facebook post falsely claims that Cristiano Ronaldo was the only captain at the Euro 2020 tournament to refuse wearing an LGBTQ armband, mandated by the European Union. However, other captains also chose to wear traditional armbands, and there's no evidence of a mandatory requirement for the rainbow armbands. The claim's source lacks credibility, and the tournament's governing body, UEFA, declined to comment.

The recent false claim circulating on social media, which falsely states that Cristiano Ronaldo was the only team captain at Euro 2020 to refuse wearing an LGBTQ armband mandated by the European Union, has gained significant traction. However, upon closer examination of the facts, this claim lacks credibility.

According to a report by Lead Stories [1], the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) did not force team captains to wear an LGBTQ armband during Euro 2020. While some captains did wear armbands in support of anti-discrimination causes, such as the OneLove armband, there was no mandatory requirement for these armbands.

The OneLove armband, featuring the words "One Love" with a rainbow-striped heart between the words, was a product of the OneLove campaign [1]. However, it is essential to note that the association of some captains, including German soccer player Manuel Neuer, with the OneLove campaign came during later competitions and not at Euro 2020 [1].

Therefore, the claim that Cristiano Ronaldo was the only team captain to refuse wearing an LGBTQ armband during Euro 2020 is false. It is crucial to be vigilant and fact-check information before sharing it on social media to avoid spreading misinformation.

References:
[1] Lead Stories. (2024, June 22). Fact Check: UEFA Did Not Make Team Captains Wear Armband in Support of Pro-LGBTQ Campaign During Euro 2020. Retrieved from https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2024/06/fact-check-uefa-did-not-make-team-captains-wear-armband-in-support-of-pro-lgbtq-campaign-during-euro-2020.html