I don't think they stood down because of hypocrisy. They stood down because FIFA put footballing sanctions on the table. It's important to label FIFA as the cnuts here. No one should have to risk pitch sanctions as a result of protesting for a just cause.
Anyone who wore the band would be sacrificing their personal ambitions for this cause. Very praise worthy. That can never be an expectation though. It diminishes the sacrifice of those who made that decision in the past.
Fifa are the cnuts we all know that.
But this isn't about what people "should" do, this is about the words and actions. Southgate, Kane and plenty of others have gone on and one about these issues and made a big deal about the armband. Come on, are we shocked about what's happened here? Are we genuinely shocked about the alcohol ban coming in last minute? Do we really believe these things weren't always the plan? My issue is the lip service with no real care behind it. They media playing, the brand building, the money grabbing. They've piggy backed on a cause and pretending to give a shit whilst clearly not.
This is all based on my own personal opinion that this was always going to happen and that the FA weren't stupid enough to believe that Kane could ever wear the armband btw. My Fiancee is bi and I told her weeks ago Kane wouldn't walk out with the armband. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe Kane does care, but going by the past, I very much doubt it and don't believe they ever really gave a shit past good soundbytes to stop them getting shit on before the tournament. After all, as I said, this will all be forgotten about after the first goal.
So yes, whilst the real ire should be directed at those who didn't even bother at all and Fifa, I do still consider those that play it to their advantage as massive pricks. They knew this would happen, they made it an issue and now they (to me at least) have damaged the cause by showing how fake it is to them. We shouldn't place expectations on people, I agree. But these people did that themselves, they made a big deal of this all along knowing what would happen. Sorry, but I see through that.