A PREMIER LEAGUE player allegedly confronted his club after becoming “concerned” that he would be “perceived as gay” after twice appearing on the front of a matchday programme during the Rainbow Laces period.
The revelation comes amid the launch of a new campaign from the Prem to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion this month.
England’s top division previously ended its long-standing partnership with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
It means that club captains will no longer be asked to wear pride or rainbow-themed armbands.
In addition, players will not have to wear pride-themed warm-up shirts or use rainbow laces on their boots.
Instead, it has been reported by The Athletic that a pride-themed football could be introduced.
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This year’s dedicated gameweek – which takes place between 6 and 12 February – comes too soon for a new ball to be created, but there is hope that it could be developed for next season.
The change of LGBTQ+ campaign comes after some players across the Premier League and EFL were reluctant to participate.
Manchester United abandoned plans to wear an Adidas jacket in support of the LGBTQ+ community before their league match against Everton last season.
It happened after Noussair Mazraoui refused to wear it.
In addition, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy, a practising Muslim, chose not to wear the rainbow armband last season due to his religious beliefs.
The Athletic has now revealed that one player made a complaint to his club after being put on the front of the matchday programme during the Rainbow Laces period for two years in a row.
The player was concerned that he could be “perceived as gay” rather than an ally.
London-based marketing agency Nomad Studio has partnered with the Premier League to promote the campaign, which will also seek to strengthen support systems and infrastructure for first-team or academy staff or players who require support on LGBTQ+ related issues.
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