Football players urged to wear rainbow-coloured laces to tackle homophobia

Stonewall to start anti-homophobia campaign

In their quest to combat homophobia in football, gay rights charity Stonewall has requested all professional football players in England and Scotland to wear rainbow-coloured laces in their boots.

Stonewall deputy chief executive Laura Doughty, confirming that the laces have been sent to a total of 134 clubs, including Premier league teams, expressed hope that they will be worn by the players on 21 and 22 September.

Doughty was quoted as saying by BBC: “It’s time for football clubs and players to step up and make a visible stand against homophobia in our national game. By wearing rainbow laces, players will send a message of support to gay players and can begin to drag football into the 21st Century.”

She also insisted that the movement is carried out only to change players’ mental outlook towards gay footballers and not to persuade them to reveal their sexuality.

QPR midfielder Joey Barton took to twitter to support the campaign when he tweeted:

Currently, English and Scottish professional leagues do not have brazen homosexual footballers.

Join the rainbow laces movement. Sexuality in sport should not be an issue in the 21st century. #RBGF

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) September 16, 2013