Manchester United stadium could be first to have gender-neutral toilets
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Fred of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on September 22, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Manchester United is considering installing gender-neutral toilets, in what would be an unprecedented move for a Premier League team.
A record of the minutes of the latest Manchester United fans forum on September 21 revealed that the club is actively investigating the prospect of creating transgender-friendly facilities at its Old Trafford stadium.
A fan asked whether United could install gender-neutral toilets at the 75,000-capacity venue, to which head of security Jim Liggett responded positively.
Stoney came out in 2014 (manutd/twitter)
He said: “It’s something we are looking at as we are keen to ensure that Old Trafford continues to be welcoming and inclusive to all supporters; I will keep you posted regarding progress.”
Liggett, who also serves as a Police Superintendent for Greater Manchester Police, added: “Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is important in everything that we do and we’re constantly working with key stakeholders, including Stonewall, on such topics.”
PinkNews has approached Manchester united for further comment.
The club, which Forbes lists as being the most valuable football club in the world at £3.1 billion, last year became the first sports team to partner with Stonewall, announcing that it would work with the charity “to tackle LGBT issues in sport and society.”
This was followed by United bringing back its women’s team after a much-criticised 13-year absence and hiring former England captain and proud lesbian Casey Stoney as the side’s manager.
“Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is important in everything that we do” (Clive Brunskill/Getty)
Last year, United star Paul Pogba said he’d welcome a gay player in the Premier League — which hasn’t happened since Justin Fashanu came out in 1990.
The midfielder, whose £89 million move to the club in 2016 is the most expensive British transfer of all time, was asked how he felt about the prospect of a gay footballer, to which he said: “That’s something that I’ve never seen but why not? It’s a human being.
Pogba (right) said he would welcome a gay player in the Premier League (Michael Regan/Getty)
“What he does in his private life has nothing to do with the player. You just have to respect him. Because he respects you, you respect him. That’s it.
“It’s all about respect. It’s all about equality everywhere in the world. We are all equal when we play football.”
But last month, his Arsenal rival Héctor Bellerín said that football fans were “not ready” for a gay player in the league.
Bellerin said he had been called a lesbian because of his hair (Julian Finney/Getty)
The Spanish right-back revealed that he faces trolling from supporters, saying: “Most of the abuse is online, but you hear it in the stadium too. People have called me ‘lesbian’ for growing my hair.
“There are other kinds of homophobic insults. I have learnt to grow a thick skin but it can affect you. Every now and again, you get a bit of self-doubt.”
He added: “It is impossible that anybody could be openly gay in football. Some fans are not ready.”
