Man Utd stars ‘refuse to wear pro-LGBTQ+ jackets’ in support of team-mate | Football | Sport

Manchester United stars reportedly abandoned plans to wear a rainbow-themed Adidas jacket after Noussair Mazraoui raised ‘religious concerns’. The Premier League is this week marking the Rainbow Laces campaign, a movement led by LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall.

United had initially planned for their players to walk out ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton wearing a jacket that featured a rainbow. However, The Athletic reports that defender Mazraoui refused to take part in the initiative.

During the Rainbow Laces periods of the last two seasons, United’s players have worn Pride-themed shirts to warm up. A similar jacket has been sported by stars as they emerge onto the pitch before the match.

Only the jacket had been planned for this year. However, it is claimed that Mazraoui refused to take part, citing his Muslim faith as the reason. The squad reportedly concluded that none of them would wear the jacket so that the Moroccan – a £15million summer signing – would not be the only one.

It is claimed that not everyone in the dressing room was happy about the decision, which took place only hours away from kick-off at Old Trafford.

Mazraoui has previously received criticism for his apparent position on displays of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. In 2023, his own fans at Bayern Munich raised a banner which read: “All colours are beautiful. In Toulouse, Munich and everywhere. Respect our values Mazraoui!”

It came after the 27-year-old spoke out in support of Morocco team-mate Zakaria Aboukhlal, who had refused to take part in Ligue 1’s LGBTQ+ rights campaign while playing for Toulouse.

Nineteen of the 20 Premier League captains wore Pride-themed armbands last weekend to mark the Rainbow Laces campaign. Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy was the only one to refuse, also citing his Muslim faith as the reason. Wearing the armband is not compulsory.

However, the Football Association wrote to Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace after the England international wrote ‘I [heart] Jesus’ on his armband for his club’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday. Football’s laws do not allow for religious messaging appearing on equipment.

Guehi emerged for Palace’s match against Ipswich on Tuesday with a new message on his armband. The 24-year-old had written ‘Jesus [heart] you’ on the accessory. Playing in the same match, Morsy once again opted to wear the standard Premier League armband that captains wear for the majority of the season.