Community

Gary Lineker to wear anti-homophobia rainbow laces on Match of the Day

PinkNews logo surrounded by illustrated images including a rainbow, unicorn, PN sign and pride flag.

Gary Lineker has requested a pair of rainbow laces so he can wear them on Saturday night’s Match of the Day in support of a campaign against homophobia in football.

The former England player was asked on Twitter by the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) if he would lend his voice to the campaign. The presenter replied “totally” before adding: “Send some to BBC Salford. I’ll wear on MOTD.”

During his long footballing career, Linker briefly played for Everton in the mid 1980s. On Thursday his former club became the first Premier League football team to announce that its players would wear rainbow laces. 

The laces have been distributed to every footballer across all 134 professional clubs in the UK. Each player is asked to wear the laces in their club fixtures on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September.

“The Right Behind Gay Footballers” campaign by gay rights charity Stonewall and bookmaker Paddy Power is focused on changing attitudes in football rather than urging players to come out.

Queen’s Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton became the first high profile player to back the project on Monday.

Gary Lineker tweeted his support for the campaign and requested a pair of laces yesterday:

 

Register to save articles and more. It'll only take a minute and it's free.
JOIN US TODAY!