Friday night’s fixture between West Ham and Leicester sees the launch of the now-annual Stonewall-backed Rainbow Laces campaign.
The Rainbow Laces campaign runs from November 24 to December 3 and sees clubs across sports and the country show their backing for the LGBT community.
It aims to ensure LGBT people – and 3.9million across the country identify as lesbian, gay or bi – feel welcome and included.
Players and officials from across football gather to support Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign (left to right: Billy Clarke, Scott Cuthbert, Shandon Baptiste, John Egan, Kevin Friend, Luke Prosser, Jack Whatmough, Fara Williams, Gary O’Neil and Mark Noble)
Players in the Premier League will wear the rainbow laces for matches over the next 10 days
As part of that outreach, games will see players wear rainbow laces. In the Premier League, the captain will also wear a rainbow armband.
And around the game, there will be a rainbow branded ball plinth, rainbow pitch flags and timing boards will be similarly branded.
This will be reflected in the Football League, whose clubs have also been backing the campaign.
Ahead of this weekend’s campaign the EFL, Premier League, PGMOL, and the FA joined together to produce a photograph to show football standing together in support of LGBT inclusivity.
All 92 league clubs will be supporting Stonewall’s initiative with various activities including rainbow-coloured captains’ armbands, laces and programme adverts. In a league first, EFL clubs will also be proudly displaying rainbow-coloured corner flags at matches this weekend.
The EFL, Premier League, PGMOL, and the FA joined together for the photograph set
Captains will exchange rainbow laces ahead of matches in the Premier League this weekend
In addition, England women’s televised World Cup qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Banks’s Stadium on Friday will see all players wearing the rainbow laces.
It is not just football that will back the campaign over the 10 days.
England Rugby, the Premiership and the Players’ Association will don the laces for the campaign.
This means they will be worn during the game against Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: ‘Premier League football is for everyone, everywhere and our clubs are committed to equality and diversity at all levels of the sport.
Those representing Harlequins rugby team will don the laces in their boots in support
‘We view the LGBT community as an integral part of our community and, working with Stonewall, we want this partnership to improve the experience of LGBT people already playing football, and supporting clubs, and to signal to others who might be interested in getting involved, that they are welcome to do so.’
Stonewall chief executive Ruth Hunt said: ‘This is an important milestone for football, and for sport. When we started this campaign we asked people to lace up.
‘We knew this simple act wasn’t going to solve the problem, our aim was to raise awareness of the issue. We also knew we can’t tackle this on our own, we need allies.
‘The Premier League have stepped up and demonstrated how committed they are to helping make football inclusive and welcoming of LGBT people. The reasons for the lack of LGBT inclusion in sport are complex.
Chris Robshaw posted a photograph on his Twitter account of his boots with the laces
‘There’s no 10-point charter, or pledge that will prevent someone for shouting homophobic abuse. It needs concentrated work, careful attention and a thought-through strategy to ensure no-one is left behind.’
Manchester City tweeted on Friday morning: ‘We’re proud to support @stonewalluk’s #RainbowLaces campaign. Make sport everyone’s game’.
Shaun Harvey, EFL chief executive said: ‘We are proud to support Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign again for this season.
‘Ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for supporters attending EFL matches remains a key priority but the EFL and our clubs are committed to providing a positive experience for all that stretches well beyond the 90 minutes of play.
Steve Grainger, RFU rugby development director said: ‘Rugby is a game for all and at the core of our strategic plan is our commitment to ensuring that rugby provides an inclusive and welcoming environment for all across every level of the game.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany holds a rainbow armband to support the campaign