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When Representing Your Country Becomes Political
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Deemed too political Before and after The faces of war AIN flag A memorable political protest
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Deemed too political
Deemed too political Hannes Delcroix of Haiti national team wears the ultimately disallowed uniform. FIFA said the depiction of the 1803 Battle of Vertières violated its rules against featuring a specific political event.

When Representing Your Country Becomes Political

For FIFA and the IOC, the line between national pride and politics can be hard to navigate.
Written by
Tracy Grant
Tracy Grant is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She previously served as editor in chief, the first woman to hold that title. 
Tracy Grant
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

When it comes to sporting events, there is perhaps nothing more stirring than the sight of victorious athletes standing on the Olympic podium as their national anthem is played. Similarly, the World Cup is a global phenomenon in which the waving of national colors reaches fever pitch. Certainly, the organizers of the Olympics and the World Cup—the IOC and FIFA—have created events built on national pride. But what happens when the balance tips and the...

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