Virgil van Dijk has hit back at claims the Netherlands and other countries have been spineless in the anti-discrimination armband controversy.
The Dutch were one of seven European nations who planned to have their captains wearing the rainbow-coloured OneLove armband at the World Cup.
The band is part of a year-long campaign but sent out an especially significant message in Qatar, a country which criminalises same-sex relationships.
However, the seven countries dropped their plans after tournament organisers FIFA threatened them with sporting sanctions including yellow cards for the captains if the bands were worn, instructing teams to wear a FIFA-approved 'no discrimination' band instead.
Oranje skipper Van Dijk told Dutch broadcaster NOS: "I play in a position where a yellow card is not useful. I became a football player and I want to play these kind of tournaments.
"There are people who say we don’t have a backbone, but that’s not how it works," the Liverpool defender added.
"We just want to play football. I would have loved to play with that band, but not at the expense of a yellow card."
Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate says the failure to secure FIFA approval for Harry Kane to wear the 'OneLove' captain's armband prior to the match against Iran had been a concern to him, and admits there are "lessons to be learned" from the controversy.
The build-up to the team’s opening World Cup match against Iran was dominated by uncertainty over what the consequences would be if the rainbow-coloured band was worn.
England's Football Association (FA) had sought FIFA approval to wear the armband at the World Cup in Qatar as far back as September when the year-long OneLove campaign began, but received no reply.
The governing body was prepared to be fined for wearing it, but when it emerged in the hours before kick-off that FIFA could issue yellow cards to Kane and the other six European captains who had been set to wear the band, the plan was dropped - a move that has seen the seven FAs involved face criticism for backing down to FIFA on the issue.
However, Southgate said after the win over Iran he understood FIFA had to be careful about setting a precedent, and told talkSPORT’s World Cup daily podcast: "I was a bit concerned that approval hadn’t been given and I think there are lessons to be learned from that, if I’m honest.
"But we had to focus on the football and other people had to do that talking overnight and (on Sunday and Monday morning).
"For me I didn’t want anything distracting the players. There’s been a huge amount of talk around us, which is understandable.
"If we can help raise awareness of other issues then we want to do that and we will always try to do that, but of course we’re here to try and take our supporters on a great journey again."
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FIFA has been heavily criticised over the matter. It only announced its plan for an approved armband on Saturday, and even then, it stated the ‘no discrimination’ part of its campaign would only begin at the quarter-final stage.
Instead on Monday that position shifted. It followed a late U-turn on alcohol sales within stadium perimeters last Friday, and has again raised questions over who ultimately is in charge at this World Cup – FIFA or the Qatari authorities.
Wales supporters alleged rainbow-coloured items were confiscated from them before their match against the United States on Monday night, including Laura McAllister, who last year stood for election to the FIFA Council.
She tweeted on Monday night: "So, despite fine words from @FIFAWorldCup before event @Cymru rainbow bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included."
FIFA and the Supreme Committee, the tournament organisers, have been approached for comment on the allegations that rainbow-coloured items were confiscated.
FIFA is understood to have had assurances from the Qatari authorities before the tournament that supporters would be able to wear rainbow-coloured clothing and carry rainbow-coloured banners and flags.
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