Manchester United Abandons Pro-LGBTQ+ Jackets Against Everton Due to Mazraoui's Religious Views: Report
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) As part of the Rainbow Laces initiative, held each season to promote equality and inclusion, Manchester United had plans to don Pro-LGBTQ+ jackets during their warm-up for the match against Everton on Sunday, but the plan was ultimately abandoned.
According to a report by The Athletic, the decision came after defender Noussair Mazraoui opted out of the initiative, leading the players of Manchester United to cancel their intention to wear the Adidas jacket in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. The report further indicated that the reason was tied to Mazraoui’s Muslim religious beliefs, resulting in some players expressing their dissatisfaction with the decision.
The Premier League teams work alongside the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall on the Rainbow Laces campaign each season, celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion at all matches from November 29 to December 5. During this timeframe, the League and clubs highlight the efforts they make year-round to instill equality, diversity, and inclusion in all their activities.
These match rounds coincide with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which has been pivotal in fostering discussions about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports since 2013.
Team captains will wear rainbow-coloured armbands in future matches, with Rainbow Laces branding prominently displayed throughout the stadiums. There are measures and sanctions established to ensure that anyone found guilty of discriminatory behavior—whether online or in-person—faces consequences, including stadium bans.
This initiative has sparked significant debate over the weekend, starting with Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who opted not to wear the rainbow armband during their matches within this period.
“Ipswich Town Football Club is devoted to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone,” stated a club announcement. “However, we also respect the choice of our captain Sam Morsy, who has decided against wearing the rainbow captain’s armband due to his religious beliefs,” Ipswich Town expressed.
Additionally, significant backlash arose from Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi writing ‘Jesus Loves You’ on his armband.
