TL;DR: A series of headlines in the last week show the Premier League faces widespread problems with homophobia, as two high-profile players refuse to take part in the annual Rainbow Laces campaign on the grounds of religious beliefs.
Two high-profile Premier League footballers have refused to participate in this year's Rainbow Laces campaign, which sees practically all players in the league participate in the optional initiative.
Ipswich player Sam Morsy refused to wear the rainbow captain armband this week in his team’s match against Crystal Palace - Mirror Football
Later in the week, news emerged that Manchester United players abandoned the club’s plans to wear an Adidas jacket to support the LGBTQIA+ community ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton, after defender Noussair Mazraoui refused to join the initiative. The decision didn’t go down well with all players - The Athletic
Elsewhere, the Football Association announced it will not take formal action against Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi after the defender wrote 'I love Jesus' on his rainbow armbands, in direct violation of a rule that prohibits religious messages on any form of kit - BBC Sport
What is the Rainbow Laces campaign?
Organised by Stonewall, the campaign has run for over a decade. It sees players wear the titular rainbow laces and other rainbow-patterned gear in an initiative designed to invite LGBTQIA+ fans into the league, and make a better environment for players to come out.
There are currently no out players in the Premier League, and only one in the professional game in the UK. Jake Daniels plays for Blackpool FC in the third-tier EFL league - QueerAF
The only player to have ever come out in the Premier League was Justin Fashanu, who was hounded by the press after coming out in 1990 and took his own life eight years later. A group set up after he died, the Justin Campaign later created Football V Homophobia to tackle the hate he faced in the game, media and wider society.
Pundits and out Scottish footie player Zander Murray have now called for a rework of the Rainbow Laces campaign to match the tone of the Justin Project’s campaign, focusing on ‘kicking homophobia out’ of the game instead of the broader focus on inclusion.
Analysis: Homophobia taints the beautiful game
Much of the discussion around rainbow laces in the football punditry world this week has focused on the same conversations you see in these issues wherever they show up - without acknowledging the veracity and scale of reports of the homophobia that still surrounds the game.
Much of it centres around the question 'why do you have to make football political?’ When people say ‘it's just a game', that’s a dog-whistle that undermines not only queer liberation, but the beautiful game itself.
Football is more than a game. It unites vast communities and whole cities behind a single goal. It's a game loved by billions and a place of escape, joy and love for so many. If you're a true football fan, you should want everyone to be able to enjoy it.
That means doing the work to show that a game that hasn't always been welcoming of queer fans or players is ready to welcome difference and exercise tolerance. That means refusing to allow people to promote hate, while inviting those who want to show welcoming support to do so.
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