- The Rainbow Laces campaign began in the Premier League on Friday night
- West Ham’s London Stadium was lit up for 1-1 draw against Leicester
- Captains’ armbands, advertising boards and laces were all rainbow-themed
The London Stadium was lit up in all the colours of the rainbow on Saturday night as the Premier League launched their Rainbow Laces campaign this weekend.
Friday night’s 1-1 draw between West Ham and Leicester saw the launch of the now annual Stonewall-backed initiative.
It runs from November 24 to December 3 and sees clubs across sports and the country show their backing for the LGBT community.
The London Stadium was lit up in all the colours of the rainbow before Friday night’s match
West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Leicester saw the start of the annual Rainbow Laces campaign
Campaign runs from November 24 to December 3 and shows backing for the LGBT community
The campaign aims to ensure LGBT people – 3.9 million across the country identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual – feel welcome and included.
As part of that outreach, Friday night’s match saw the London Stadium lit up in all seven colours of the rainbow, rainbow-coloured captains’ armbands and laces.
Advertising boards around the pitch were lit up, and there was even a rainbow-branded ball plinth, corner flags and timing boards.
Sky Sports also stepped in, adding a rainbow pattern to the top of their scoreboard for Friday’s game.
Sky Sports put a rainbow-themed pattern on top of their scoreboard for Friday night’s match
Captains Wes Morgan and Winston Reid wore rainbow-coloured armbands for the match
Match officials wore rainbow laces and the bal plinth was also rainbow-themed
Pitch-side pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville also used rainbow-themed microphones.
All 92 League clubs will be supporting the campaign over the course of the period.
Ahead of the campaign the EFL, Premier League, referees’ body PGMOL, and the FA joined together to produce a photograph to show football standing together in support of LGBT inclusivity.
The fourth official used a rainbow-themed board for added time and substitutions
Sky Sports puindits had rainbow-decorated microphones to use on the side of the pitch