05 Sep Paddy Power and Arsenal players team up to fight homophobia

Arsenal and Paddy Power will support Stonewall the Gay Football Supporters’ Network with an initiative that is quickly becoming a tradition in the Premier League: a rainbow laces as a symbol of the fight against homophobia in football.

After first introducing the campaign last year, this season the movement is kicked off by Arsenal players with this funny viral video that has the Gunner stars accepting the things they can’t change. Self-deprecating humor aside, a big part of what will make this video viral – the video sends a clear message that Homophobia can and should be changed.

For doing that, Paddy Power’s Rainbow laces have become a symbol of kicking Homophobia out of football altogether. Last year, players from 54 clubs in the UK joined the campaign by wearing the Rainbow Laces. The initiative was also a success on Social Media, as is gathered a lot of support on twitter – were 320 million impressions according to Paddy Power’s numbers. This year, they’ll be looking to make an even bigger impact.

Rainbow coloured boot laces have been dispatched to every single professional player in the UK, including youth and women’s teams, alongside deliveries to all MPs and leading political figures. And we are urging them to show their support by lacing up over the 13th/ 14th September – Rainbow Lace weekend. Fans and grass-root players will also be asked to tweet their support using the official hashtag: #RainbowLaces.

More information about this campaign and how you can help is available at www.stonewall.org.uk/football