Football
PA Sport 6y

EFL to use rainbow-coloured corner flags in awareness campaign

Every English Football League ground will display rainbow-coloured corner flags between Nov. 25 and Dec. 3 in support of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign.

Launched in 2013, the campaign is a show of solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans, players and staff across football.

As in previous years, players are invited to wear rainbow laces in their boots and the clubs have also been provided with rainbow captain's armbands and programme adverts, while match officials have also been sent rainbow laces.

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said In a statement: "Whilst acknowledging there has been progress made in this area, there is still work to be done.

"We can never be complacent and that is why the EFL remains committed to supporting campaigns such as this as we continue to promote diversity and inclusivity across all areas of the game."

Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, the UK's leading charity for LGBT issues, added: "We believe in making sport everyone's game and to do that we need allies to step up and show their support.

"By making such a visible show of Rainbow Laces -- with armbands and corner flags, as well as of course rainbow laces -- the EFL is raising awareness on and off the pitch."

Having announced a three-year partnership with Stonewall last week, the Premier League has revealed its plans for supporting this year's Rainbow Laces campaign.

Like the EFL, the rainbow colours will appear on captain's armbands, players' laces and corner flags, but also on the ball plinths and handshake boards used at the start of games and the timing boards used during the games.

On top of that, pitchside LED boards will display positive messages, which will be reinforced in the match-day programmes, and the league's website and social media channels will also feature the Rainbow Laces branding.

These splashes of colour will first be seen when West Ham host Leicester on Friday, November 24, and end when Manchester City visit Huddersfield on Sunday, November 26.

In a statement, Premier League executive director Bill Bush said: "We all have a role to play in changing attitudes within sport.

"Last year's activity for the Rainbow Laces weekend helped to raise the profile of LGBT equality in our game, and we look to develop that further this year."

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