Wales are ‘furious’ players have been threatened with bookings if they wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup.
Gareth Bale was among a group of European national captains who planned to wear the armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion.
But world governing body Fifa told them they faced “sporting sanctions” if they did.
Football Association of Wales chief Noel Mooney told ITV it was a “terrible” decision.
“For months and months we knew we were going to wear the OneLove armband and they certainly did,” Mooney said.
“To be frank, imposing that one on us is pretty cheap and pretty low. We are really disappointed by this attitude.
“We were absolutely furious about it. We gave Fifa everything we had in terms of anger about this decision. We think it was a terrible decision.
“I understand why everyone would be upset that the OneLove armband wasn’t there, but there was no way to ask Gareth Bale to take a yellow or red card in his first World Cup, how did you could do that?
“Anyone who thinks the player can just get a red card like that, doesn’t really understand the psyche of a professional athlete who is going to play the greatest moment of their life.
“We didn’t back down. We had to look at the sporting sanction that was there.
“We had said we would accept fines, whatever the sanctions, but when it came to the very last moment of specific sporting sanctions that would have prevented our players from taking the field of play potentially, that is another thing. . It was done so late.”
Wales had the rainbow flag prominently displayed at their training base in Qatar on Wednesday, sending a message of defiance to World Cup organizers.
Mooney also criticized Fifa for fans entering stadiums being forced to remove rainbow bucket hats.
This included the former Wales captain Laura McAllister who was told to take off her rainbow bucket hat as she watched Wales’ first 1-1 draw with the United States.
McAllister, the former Sport Wales chairman and Fifa council candidate, is gay and said security at the stadium was “heavy-handed. It was quite intimidating”.
A professor at the Faculty of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, McAllister is also currently director of the board of the Football Association of Wales Trust and vice-chair of the UEFA Women’s Football Committee.
“I was in the stadium and I started getting messages and texts saying people were having their bobs removed,” Mooney said.
“I heard that shoe laces were taken from people, I heard that bracelets were taken from people. You couldn’t make it up.
“We were told it would be a really inclusive, welcoming and warm World Cup. I didn’t see that, I have to say.
“The fact that our fans are having their bucket hats taken off is just appalling. We are seeking clarification on this.
“We asked Fifa to come back to us today with some clarification for the game against Iran, namely that our fans can wear whatever they want.
“Their voice was taken away, the players’ voice was taken away by the armband. For that, we are deeply disappointed.”
Germany players covered their mouths during the team photo ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan.
Manager Hansi Flick said it was ‘to get the message across that Fifa is silencing’ the teams.
The German football association, the DFB, also said it was investigating the legality of Fifa’s threat to punish players for wearing the armband.
Football’s world governing body has threatened the bookings of all players wearing the rainbow armbands meant to promote diversity and inclusion.
Bale of Wales had planned to wear the OneLove armband, along with England’s Harry Kane and the captains of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The Football Association of Wales, which has requested a meeting with Fifa over the incidents, said on Monday: “We are frustrated. We are disappointed.
“But we remain convinced that football is for everyone and support our LGBTQ+ members of the Welsh football family.”
Mooney, however, told ITV there was no chance of Wales leaving Fifa.
“No, the global game is here as one family,” he said.
“Like any family, we have bad times, of course we do. It’s a bad time for us because we think a message of love of inclusivity was a very important message for us to come out.
“What was taken from us was not a good time.”
No disciplinary action will be taken against Germany and, as things stand, Wales have not been reprimanded for their stance.
The Dragons will be next in action on Friday against Iran, beaten 6-2 in their opener by England.
