The Demoralising Controversy Surrounding Premier League’s Rainbow Laces Campaign 

Several Premier League captains are in the spotlight for their decisions as the league sets about their annual collaboration with Stonewall Organisation with the ‘Rainbow Laces’ campaign with a gesture towards LGBTQ+ inclusion.

What is The Rainbow Laces Campaign?

The LGBTQ+ organisation Stonewall and UK bookmaker Paddy Power first collaborated on the campaign in 2013, sending rainbow-coloured laces to all professional football players in England and Scotland. In an effort to promote inclusivity throughout the top division of English football, the Premier League formally partnered with Stonewall after players were encouraged to wear them as a sign of support for queer communities.

Although wearing the armband and laces are not an obligation, it has been generally assumed that every player will support the gesture. Anel Ahmedhodzic was the first Premier League captain to express any opposition to the pro-LGBTQ+ messaging last season.

English player Aaron Ramsdale spoke about the difficulties his older brother Oliver experienced after coming out as gay and how everyone can contribute to creating a culture of acceptance and allyship. The 26-year old Southampton goalkeeper said, “Having a brother who’s come out as gay doesn’t mean I’m the only one who has to speak out.”

The Controversy 

Player Sam Morsy chose not to wear the rainbow armband during Ipswich Town’s games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. In a statement, Ipswich Town expressed their support for the Rainbow Laces initiative while also acknowledging Morsy’s faith and asserting their respect for his decision.

On his captain’s armband during games, Marc Guéhi had been writing statements like “I love Jesus” and “Jesus loves you.” It was initially perceived with confusion as people often impose restriction over sexuality and gender expression in the name of religion. The 24-year-old England defender later asserted that the message he wrote on his rainbow armband was one of “truth and love and inclusivity.”

On Wednesday morning, The Athletic reported that Manchester United had abandoned their intention to wear Adidas warm-up jackets with rainbow designs with the words ‘Love Unites’ when defender Noussair Mazraoui declined to participate. Like Morsy, the Morocco international attributed his refusal to his religious beliefs.

While gestures like sporting a rainbow armband are often facile and vapid—devoid of any genuine concern about the well-being and upliftment of marginalized communities and mostly an attempt towards corporate pinkwashing, it should be noted that English Football (specifically Men’s Football) is an incredibly hostile place to be queer in. According to a Stonewall research published last month, the prejudice is rampant to the point that one in four LGBTQ+ individuals still did not feel comfortable at live sporting events—and it can get terribly demoralising to see players refuse to partake in even superficial gestures of solidarity.