o/t Rainbow Laces

Mr_Brightside

Mr_Brightside

Well-known member
I see with the news that the EPL and EFL are supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign again that it's prompted the usual 'debate'. To be honest, the world is about opinions but I do find it ironic that watching football nowadays you are often blinded by every colour of shirt, shorts and boots (boots in particular) and yet some get a bit prickly about Rainbow Laces!
 
Good on the EPL and the EFL - anything that raises the profile is a good thing. No names but I have a friend who works at an EPL club and says it's common knowledge there that two of the players are gay but neither will come out whilst we still have so many fans with Neanderthal views (cough, cough Millwall).
 
Whether it be rainbow laces, blm or anything else to be honest, I don't think that the premier league or EFL should be involved in anything like this.
Who elected them to be the guardians of our national moral conscience?
Every time we watch a match on sky or watch sky sports news its rammed down our throat.
As Troy Deeney rightly says in the papers today we're not here to be racially abused and the homosexuals and lesbians (if I'm allowed to say that)footballers could say the same about their sexuality.

But I dont go to a football match or watch sport in the television to be told what I should think and what I should do about it.

Football is football and it shouldn't be a political platform or anything else for that matter.
Its 22 players giving us excitement, joy, pain or elation whenever they play.

There are other mediums to discuss race, gender and sexuality, and in my honest opinion sport is not the place.
 
As long as there is one person watching a sporting event who hates, despises or mocks blacks or lgbtq’s, then I would argue that sport, with it’s worldwide exposure, is absolutely the right place to highlight this issue.

Nobody tells you what to think or do, Wizzer, but if it makes you and others feel uncomfortable about the way you think and act, then it is a brilliant thing
 
Since black people weren't allowed to be in teams, to not being recognised as winners, to bananas being thrown on the pitch, to players being afraid to be unveiled as being gay, then I would say politics and race/ sexuality issues have always been inherent in sport, it can't be avoided. As a world-wide reaching influence, football should rightly address these issues within the game, and letting it have a knock on affect into the wider community.
I don't understand the harm it causes - does it change the viewing experience when watching a match? I personally find VAR far more offensive to the game than any kneeling or bootlaces.
 
Last edited:
Wizzerboy said:
Whether it be rainbow laces, blm or anything else to be honest, I don't think that the premier league or EFL should be involved in anything like this.
Who elected them to be the guardians of our national moral conscience?
Every time we watch a match on sky or watch sky sports news its rammed down our throat.
As Troy Deeney rightly says in the papers today we're not here to be racially abused and the homosexuals and lesbians (if I'm allowed to say that)footballers could say the same about their sexuality.

But I dont go to a football match or watch sport in the television to be told what I should think and what I should do about it.

Football is football and it shouldn't be a political platform or anything else for that matter.
Its 22 players giving us excitement, joy, pain or elation whenever they play.

There are other mediums to discuss race, gender and sexuality, and in my honest opinion sport is not the place.
Click to expand...
totally agree wizzer. Whilst I agree with the sentiments of all of these campaigns, I am sick of football being like watching a party political broadcast. It takes about 5 minutes for the game to kick off with all the respect this, take a knee, minute's applause, silence etc. Just play football please. But you cant say that as it makes you a racist, sexist, homophobe, bigot, xenophobe etc. It's quite ironic as I believe that football is the one thing that pulls most people together.
 
O4tonygreen said:
It's quite ironic as I believe that football is the one thing that pulls most people together.
Click to expand...
Football is the only sport where its fans hate others for no other reason that they support another team and fight with and hurl abuse at somebody who had a different coloured football shirt on. Even if they live in the same town/borough/County.

Struggle with the one thing that pulls people together?

As for the laces, all for it. Is it one weekend for awareness? Some of these players will have teammates who are gay and if it supports them then no problem.
 
Wizzerboy said:
Whether it be rainbow laces, blm or anything else to be honest, I don't think that the premier league or EFL should be involved in anything like this.
Who elected them to be the guardians of our national moral conscience?
Every time we watch a match on sky or watch sky sports news its rammed down our throat.
As Troy Deeney rightly says in the papers today we're not here to be racially abused and the homosexuals and lesbians (if I'm allowed to say that)footballers could say the same about their sexuality.

But I dont go to a football match or watch sport in the television to be told what I should think and what I should do about it.

Football is football and it shouldn't be a political platform or anything else for that matter.
Its 22 players giving us excitement, joy, pain or elation whenever they play.

There are other mediums to discuss race, gender and sexuality, and in my honest opinion sport is not the place.
Click to expand...
There’s no better medium to get the message across though. Imagine not supporting this.
Utterly bizarre post.
 
I can see Wizzerboy's point. We do seem to be bombarded with this cause and that cause. And I can see the side of the argument that says sport and politics shouldn't be mixed. I can also see why some may be a bit miffed about BLM and the politics involved in that.
BUT.......... football is and footballer's are very high profile these days and are seen as heroes and role models to many people, particularly young people.
So if they can use that influence to try and eradicate any form of discrimination, it's fine by me. I certainly won't be losing sleep over the colour of a player's laces. I see Jordan Henderson wore a rainbow coloured captain's armband and actually contacted a gay amateur footballer about it on Twitter. The guy had quit playing football because of the gay 'issue'. But now he says he's ready to try again because of Henderson and the rainbow laces campaign. Good on both of them I say.
 
My team, now u16, have done the rainbow laces for the past couple of seasons, and our captain wears the rainbow armband all games. Our boys are happy to set a good example, but here’s why we need football to educate from a young age - on more than one occasion our captain has been targeted by opponents for abuse with comments such as “gay b*****d”.

Now if we don’t educate from grassroots to the top of the game, prejudice will always be there.
 
Wizzerboy said:
Why is my post bizarre puma?
Is it because I've dared to question why football has taken on these quests to 'educate ' the masses.
Click to expand...
I dont think they're trying to educated the masses, they're just trying to get it out of the game so everyone can enjoy it without being abused because of something they can't change like race or sexuality. It has to be hard for a gay footballer who knows he can't come out because of the abuse he will get from fans week in and week out.
 
I bleed Tangerine said:
It has to be hard for a gay footballer who knows he can't come out because of the abuse he will get from fans week in and week out.
Click to expand...
Do you think that in todays climes that would be the case? I don't. I think by and large we've pretty much eradicated racist chanting from the terraces so I don't believe homophobic chanting would be any different. I accept that it would be difficult and brave for a current player to come out but it would signal an enormous step forward dealing with this type of issue if they did.
 
Wizzerboy said:
It may be now .
When I was at school sport was about winning
Click to expand...
Lad I went to school with was ridiculously talented and could easily have gone on to be a professional.
He quit football altogether at 17 after he was told by his youth coach at Blackburn that he shouldn't even think of coming out if he wanted to be a professional footballer.
The game is about winning, but when you are losing youth players that can go on to be game winning players for you because they want to be able to live a full and happy life then something needs to be done.
 
20togo said:
Do you think that in todays climes that would be the case? I don't. I think by and large we've pretty much eradicated racist chanting from the terraces so I don't believe homophobic chanting would be any different. I accept that it would be difficult and brave for a current player to come out but it would signal an enormous step forward dealing with this type of issue if they did.
Click to expand...
I agree that we have made huge steps, but I still think it would be incredibly difficult. I can't name 1 gay footballer in any league right now and I would bet there are 1 or 2 knocking about.
 
20togo said:
Do you think that in todays climes that would be the case? I don't. I think by and large we've pretty much eradicated racist chanting from the terraces so I don't believe homophobic chanting would be any different. I accept that it would be difficult and brave for a current player to come out but it would signal an enormous step forward dealing with this type of issue if they did.
Click to expand...
I think you’re judging many others by your standards. I’m afraid it would be open season - think how long it’s taken for us to get where we are on racism. We’ve a long way to go.
 
Kyle Seasider said:
Lad I went to school with was ridiculously talented and could easily have gone on to be a professional.
He quit football altogether at 17 after he was told by his youth coach at Blackburn that he shouldn't even think of coming out if he wanted to be a professional footballer.
The game is about winning, but when you are losing youth players that can go on to be game winning players for you because they want to be able to live a full and happy life then something needs to be done.
Click to expand...
Thats a real shame. It should never be an issue
I think the question about 'coming out' is do you want to be the 1st high profile gay footballer.
I feel there will be a lot of added exposure & probably pressure placed upon that person.

I agree with 20s in that the vast majority of fans couldnt care less but you will always have idiots.
 
Last edited:
Kyle Seasider said:
Lad I went to school with was ridiculously talented and could easily have gone on to be a professional.
He quit football altogether at 17 after he was told by his youth coach at Blackburn that he shouldn't even think of coming out if he wanted to be a professional footballer.
The game is about winning, but when you are losing youth players that can go on to be game winning players for you because they want to be able to live a full and happy life then something needs to be done.
Click to expand...
Wearing pretty laces and colourful armbands won't make a blind bit of difference.
If people seriously want to stamp out homophobia then it has to start at grass roots.
Ban the players who shout gay boy to other players, ban the managers and coaches who wont work with these people, ban supporters from using that language at football grounds. Then people may start listening .

Gay lives matter, disabled lives matter and racism should be kicked out of society.I GET IT, I REALLY DO. But I can't see why it has to be rammed down our throats all the time, because it's the ones who keep ignoring it and always will that you have to get through to.

The little lad who's told by his mother if you do it again I'll slap you on the legs, and the kid keeps doing it because he knows fuck all is going to happen.
You can have as many rainbow armbands as you like but if some dont give a tinkers you'll never change them no matter how many lapel badges sky produce for their pundits or the little rainbow sign under the score on live matches.

Stop trying to educate people who don't want to be educated, it has to be approached in a different way.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
I think you’re judging many others by your standards. I’m afraid it would be open season - think how long it’s taken for us to get where we are on racism. We’ve a long way to go.
Click to expand...
Are you saying my standards are set high? That's very kind of you. 😉 As for racism, I think we've made tremendous progress, certainly in this country, in a relative short time. I don't see it being a mass problem on the 'terraces'. Social media obviously is where there's more likely to be a problem but to an extent that is controllable.
That all said though, it's not my decision to make and as I said, it would be brave for some-one to do it. I also think that it will happen in the not too distant future. And it would be a massive step forward.
 
Wizzerboy said:
Wearing pretty laces and colourful armbands won't make a blind bit of difference.
If people seriously want to stamp out homophobia then it has to start at grass roots.
Ban the players who shout gay boy to other players, ban the managers and coaches who wont work with these people, ban supporters from using that language at football grounds. Then people may start listening .

Gay lives matter, disabled lives matter and racism should be kicked out of society.I GET IT, I REALLY DO. But I can't see why it has to be rammed down our throats all the time, because it's the ones who keep ignoring it and always will that you have to get through to.

The little lad who's told by his mother if you do it again I'll slap you on the legs, and the kid keeps doing it because he knows fuck all is going to happen.
You can have as many rainbow armbands as you like but if some dont give a tinkers you'll never change them no matter how many lapel badges sky produce for their pundits or the little rainbow sign under the score on live matches.

Stop trying to educate people who don't want to be educated, it has to be approached in a different way.
Click to expand...
But it isn't aimed at you or anyone else that doesn't want to be educated, its aimed at youngsters.
I think everyone in this forum will have looked upto footballers when they were younger and having kids heros making a stand even if it is only wearing pretty laces and colourful armbands will impact the next generation.
When I was growing up the anti racism campaigns were everywhere and they taught me that some of the songs being sung in the terraces weren't acceptable. Not everyone has good parents that will tell them right and wrong. They need something more.
So you don't like it and you are entitled to your opinion, but these campaigns aren't aimed at you anyway.
 
Kyle Seasider said:
But it isn't aimed at you or anyone else that doesn't want to be educated, its aimed at youngsters.
I think everyone in this forum will have looked upto footballers when they were younger and having kids heros making a stand even if it is only wearing pretty laces and colourful armbands will impact the next generation.
When I was growing up the anti racism campaigns were everywhere and they taught me that some of the songs being sung in the terraces weren't acceptable. Not everyone has good parents that will tell them right and wrong. They need something more.
So you don't like it and you are entitled to your opinion, but these campaigns aren't aimed at you anyway.
Click to expand...
Well you got that wrong, it's not that I don't want to be educated, if you read my post carefully you'll understand that.
I admire your point at focusing on the youngsters, but again read my post it's not just youngsters that the problem needs highlighting to.
And the bit about not all kids have got good parents, you've hit the nail on the head there without realising it.
 
20togo said:
Are you saying my standards are set high? That's very kind of you. 😉 As for racism, I think we've made tremendous progress, certainly in this country, in a relative short time. I don't see it being a mass problem on the 'terraces'. Social media obviously is where there's more likely to be a problem but to an extent that is controllable.
That all said though, it's not my decision to make and as I said, it would be brave for some-one to do it. I also think that it will happen in the not too distant future. And it would be a massive step forward.
Click to expand...
I was, you’re welcome.

I think we’ve moved to a position where in the main, racism is socially unacceptable. I don’t think we are there on LGBT, in football or society generally. I agree that it will take players to come out to start the change. Rugby is a good example, players and officials, so hopefully football will become a safe and respectful environment.
 
Wizzerboy said:
It may be now .
When I was at school sport was about winning
Click to expand...

It is rather sad that it would appear that the competitiveness has been taken out of youngsters sport or certainly reduced.

Is it not possible to have competitive AND inclusive sport though ?
 
In my opinion , Rainbow laces and taking the knee might be done for all the right reasons but it isn’t going to change the way people think, people from all walks of life have different opinions on all sorts of different topics , and their minds won’t be changed if they believe what they think !
 
Wizzerboy said:
Why is my post bizarre puma?
Is it because I've dared to question why football has taken on these quests to 'educate ' the masses.
Click to expand...

Wizzer

Please keep up, you are not allowed to offer a differing opinion on this forum, do you not know that ?

On a serious note, I couldn't agree with you more regarding Puma's "bizarre" comment.

He might not agree with what you have said but that did not make what you said "bizarre".

You expressed a different but certainly non abhorrent viewpoint and the only thing bizarre is that people expect everybody to agree with the brainwashed majority or to shut up.
 
20togo said:
Do you think that in todays climes that would be the case? I don't. I think by and large we've pretty much eradicated racist chanting from the terraces so I don't believe homophobic chanting would be any different. I accept that it would be difficult and brave for a current player to come out but it would signal an enormous step forward dealing with this type of issue if they did.
Click to expand...
Based on the angst some coloured laces are causing, it would need to be a brave thing to do because there would be abuse.
 
Wizzerboy said:
If only!!!
Click to expand...

I was being serious Wizzer, I don't see why sport can't be competitive AND inclusive.

We can put a stop to all this stopping games when one team is well ahead and not printing big defeats in the local papers and stress the importance of competition.

At the same time we can do whatever we can to ensure that ability - and attitude and other attributes but you know what I mean - is the only factor in the selection process and that people are not excluded on grounds of race, sexuality, etc, etc.
 
For a town like Blackpool there really should be an LGBT supporters group and gay people should be encouraged to attend BR.
It's something that other club's Trust's push for and I'd hope BST pick this up for the future.
 
Plumbs said:
For a town like Blackpool there really should be an LGBT supporters group and gay people should be encouraged to attend BR.
It's something that other club's Trust's push for and I'd hope BST pick this up for the future.
Click to expand...
I understand the sentiment but are there not too many blinking Blackpool supporters groups already? 🤪
 
Last edited:
Plumbs said:
For a town like Blackpool there really should be an LGBT supporters group and gay people should be encouraged to attend BR.
It's something that other club's Trust's push for and I'd hope BST pick this up for the future.
Click to expand...
Gay people do attend Bloomfield Rd , and I don’t understand why they need a separate supporters group !
 
Plumbs said:
For a town like Blackpool there really should be an LGBT supporters group and gay people should be encouraged to attend BR.
It's something that other club's Trust's push for and I'd hope BST pick this up for the future.
Click to expand...

I know you mean well Plumbs and your suggestion would not do any harm but do we really need to do this ?

I don't think for a second that the sexuality of a supporter matters at BFC and I think that if we as a club and supporters can maintain that then we have done our job.

Please don't get me wrong, I do think that we could always target certain groups to increase our supporter base but there are lots of other groups who could also be targetted, ethnics, unemployed, old, young, etc, etc.

I don't mean to be critical Plumbs, I am just not sure that there are that many gay men out there who don't attend BFC games because they want to but are frightened.
 
Plumbs said:
For a town like Blackpool there really should be an LGBT supporters group and gay people should be encouraged to attend BR.
It's something that other club's Trust's push for and I'd hope BST pick this up for the future.
Click to expand...
Excellent point @Plumbs - aside from why should you be in a group just because you're gay? I go to BR with my mate who's gay and says he just gets on with being who he is and doesn't have to join a group to be part of the club.
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
I know you mean well Plumbs and your suggestion would not do any harm but do we really need to do this ?

I don't mean to be critical Plumbs, I am just not sure that there are that many gay men out there who don't attend BFC games because they want to but are frightened.
Click to expand...
I work with the LGBT group at Leeds and for them being a recognised inclusive group is important, and also the other groups at clubs around the country; not necessarily borne from fear etc but recognised as equal in stature as it were.

The fact that no footballer has come out yet suggests there is still a massive stigma and needs addressing, and the forward thinking clubs have done so and brought more fans in from the community.

The town must have huge number of gay people who perhaps dont view a day out to football as an option, and for me that means Blackpool FC could be missing on extra revenue. Your club and your call but I think you'd be better off with this on the fans' meeting agenda.
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
I was being serious Wizzer, I don't see why sport can't be competitive AND inclusive.

We can put a stop to all this stopping games when one team is well ahead and not printing big defeats in the local papers and stress the importance of competition.

At the same time we can do whatever we can to ensure that ability - and attitude and other attributes but you know what I mean - is the only factor in the selection process and that people are not excluded on grounds of race, sexuality, etc, etc.
Click to expand...
As was my answer 2020👍🏻
 
Plumbs said:
I work with the LGBT group at Leeds and for them being a recognised inclusive group is important, and also the other groups at clubs around the country; not necessarily borne from fear etc but recognised as equal in stature as it were.

The fact that no footballer has come out yet suggests there is still a massive stigma and needs addressing, and the forward thinking clubs have done so and brought more fans in from the community.

The town must have huge number of gay people who perhaps dont view a day out to football as an option, and for me that means Blackpool FC could be missing on extra revenue. Your club and your call but I think you'd be better off with this on the fans' meeting agenda.
Click to expand...

Fair enough Plumbs, won't do any harm but I can't say it's something that really needs to be done.

I would imagine the majority of Blackpool supporters don't give a feck about the sexuality of a player or supporters.

Your suggested initiative could bring extra revenue but if extra revenue is the aim I am not sure that getting more gay people in the ground would be the first thing I'd look at.

No problem though.
 
It started off as homosexual,gay,LBGT, now its facking LBGTQIA. Will they be using the rest of the alphabet. Rainbow laces ffs,why not stick with pink,puffs.😂😂😂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top