English Premier League ends rainbow laces campaign
8th August 2025
The Premier League has officially ended its long-standing partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, bringing an end to its participation in the Rainbow Laces campaign.
The collaboration, which began in 2017, aimed to promote LGBTQ+ equality in football. Now, the league is charting a new course, planning to launch its own inclusion initiative during LGBTQ+ History Month in February.
According to reports by the Daily Telegraph and BBC Sport, the Premier League is working closely with clubs to ensure the message remains clear: discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. Educational resources used during the partnership will continue to be available.
“Rainbow Laces has benefited from a wide range of partners with a natural ebb and flow reflecting cultural and sporting changes,” a Stonewall spokesperson said.
The charity acknowledged the league’s past support and noted that bodies like the FA and the Women’s Super League (WSL) are now helping expand the campaign’s reach.
Launched in 2013, Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces initiative saw Premier League players wear rainbow-coloured laces and captain’s armbands to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion. All Premier League clubs participated.
However, recent seasons have shown a shift. Some players, citing religious beliefs, opted out of wearing the rainbow-themed apparel.
- Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, a Muslim, declined to wear the armband.
- Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace wore one marked “I ♥ Jesus” instead.
- Manchester United scrapped a planned show of support when a player refused to wear the themed jacket.
These incidents reflect broader tensions around personal beliefs and inclusive campaigns in sport.
Meanwhile, Premier League players have agreed to continue taking the knee in support of anti-racism efforts under the league’s No Room for Racism campaign. However, the gesture will now occur only twice during the 2025/26 season, coinciding with Black History Month in October.
The announcement follows a recent decision by the England women’s team to stop taking the knee altogether.