The chairman of the Icelandic Football federation admits the federation is facing growing pressure to reverse its decision to have players at UEFA EURO 2016 wear jerseys with their last names, in favour of their first name. However, the final decision is up to the team itself, he told a local radio station Bylgjan.
Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition asking the football federation have the Icelandic national team play at the UEFA EURO 2016 in jerseys with players’ first names. The Language Institution has also argued the Federation would be violating both the law and over one thousand years of Icelandic tradition by having players wear jerseys with their last names.
Read more: Pressure mounts to allow Icelandic players at UEFA EURO 2016 to wear jerseys with their actual names
The national football and handball teams wear jerseys with players’ last names, while the national basketball teams wear jerseys with players’ first, given names.
Geir Þorsteinsson said in an interview on the local radio station Bylgjan that the controversial decision had been made by the team itself. “They are known internationally by their last names, and they see the national team as a window to get even further, internationally.” Geir said that the Icelandic Football Federation would have preferred to have players’ actual given names on the jerseys, but they respect the will of the players.
The Football federation is facing harsh criticism and a growing pressure from people who feel the team should play in jerseys with the players’ given names, rather than their last names. Icelanders don’t have family names like most other nations, but use the patronymic (or occasionally the matronymic) system. Icelanders’ last names are composed of the name of the father (or mother) with the suffixes -son or -daughter. This means Icelanders are properly referred to by their first name, rather than their last name.
The chairman of the Icelandic Football federation admits the federation is facing growing pressure to reverse its decision to have players at UEFA EURO 2016 wear jerseys with their last names, in favour of their first name. However, the final decision is up to the team itself, he told a local radio station Bylgjan.
Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition asking the football federation have the Icelandic national team play at the UEFA EURO 2016 in jerseys with players’ first names. The Language Institution has also argued the Federation would be violating both the law and over one thousand years of Icelandic tradition by having players wear jerseys with their last names.
Read more: Pressure mounts to allow Icelandic players at UEFA EURO 2016 to wear jerseys with their actual names
The national football and handball teams wear jerseys with players’ last names, while the national basketball teams wear jerseys with players’ first, given names.
Geir Þorsteinsson said in an interview on the local radio station Bylgjan that the controversial decision had been made by the team itself. “They are known internationally by their last names, and they see the national team as a window to get even further, internationally.” Geir said that the Icelandic Football Federation would have preferred to have players’ actual given names on the jerseys, but they respect the will of the players.
The Football federation is facing harsh criticism and a growing pressure from people who feel the team should play in jerseys with the players’ given names, rather than their last names. Icelanders don’t have family names like most other nations, but use the patronymic (or occasionally the matronymic) system. Icelanders’ last names are composed of the name of the father (or mother) with the suffixes -son or -daughter. This means Icelanders are properly referred to by their first name, rather than their last name.
