Manchester United has made the decision to cancel plans for its players to wear rainbow jackets in support of the LGBTQ+ community, following a reported refusal from Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui, who cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his non-participation.
The Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign has seen clubs take significant steps over the past two years to promote inclusivity within football, with many teams wearing pride-themed jerseys to warm up before matches. United has previously participated in this initiative, donning specially designed outfits to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
According to a report from The Athletic, the club had intended for its squad to don rainbow jackets prior to their match against Everton; however, Mazraoui communicated to his teammates that he would not wear the item due to his devout Muslim faith. This led to a last-minute decision by the club to cancel the planned display of support to avoid singling out Mazraoui publicly.
The decision was reportedly made just hours before the game, reflecting the complexities surrounding the intersection of faith, identity, and collective team actions in professional sports. By not wearing the jackets, Manchester United aimed to foster team cohesion and respect for individual beliefs while maintaining the overall spirit of support for the LGBTQ+ community that the Rainbow Laces campaign embodies. Or something.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.besoccer.com/new/manchester-united-abandon-rainbow-jacket-initiative-amid-player-controversy-1340168 – Corroborates the decision by Manchester United to abandon the rainbow jacket initiative due to Noussair Mazraoui’s refusal, citing his religious beliefs.
- https://onefootball.com/pt-br/noticias/man-utd-players-abandon-plan-to-wear-jackets-in-support-of-lgbtq-40393550 – Supports the information that Mazraoui refused to wear the jacket over religious concerns, leading the team to cancel the initiative to maintain team unity.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-noussair-mazraoui-rainbow-laces-lgbtq-b2658628.html – Confirms that the decision was made just before the game against Everton and highlights the disappointment from Manchester United’s LGBTQ+ supporters group, Rainbow Devils.
- https://www.goal.com/en/lists/manchester-united-abandoned-lgbtq-jacket-initiative-noussair-mazraoui-refusal-everton-triggering-dressing-room-divide/blt17e4d8c4e4c28fdc – Details the refusal by Mazraoui and the subsequent decision to cancel the initiative, which caused a divide within the dressing room.
- https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1204/1484681-united-rainbow-jackets-plans-scrapped-as-player-refuses/ – Reports on the cancellation of the rainbow jackets initiative due to Mazraoui’s refusal, aligning with the broader context of the Rainbow Laces campaign.
- https://www.besoccer.com/new/manchester-united-abandon-rainbow-jacket-initiative-amid-player-controversy-1340168 – Provides context on Manchester United’s previous participation in the Rainbow Laces campaign and their tradition of wearing pride-themed jerseys.
- https://onefootball.com/pt-br/noticias/man-utd-players-abandon-plan-to-wear-jackets-in-support-of-lgbtq-40393550 – Mentions the involvement of Adidas in the initiative and their reported disappointment over the decision to cancel the jacket wearing.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-noussair-mazraoui-rainbow-laces-lgbtq-b2658628.html – Explains the role of Rainbow Devils, Manchester United’s LGBTQ+ supporters group, and their work with the club on inclusivity projects.
- https://www.goal.com/en/lists/manchester-united-abandoned-lgbtq-jacket-initiative-noussair-mazraoui-refusal-everton-triggering-dressing-room-divide/blt17e4d8c4e4c28fdc – Highlights the complexities and challenges faced by clubs in balancing individual beliefs with collective team actions and social campaigns.
- https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1204/1484681-united-rainbow-jackets-plans-scrapped-as-player-refuses/ – Details the broader context of similar incidents involving other players, such as Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy, who also declined to wear rainbow armbands for religious reasons.
