Man City, Chelsea and more Premier League clubs trolled for LGBT support
Premier League clubs showed their support for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign this week. (Facebook)
Premier League football clubs—including Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal—have faced online homophobic abuse for showing support for Stonewall’s pro-LGBT+ Rainbow Laces campaign on social media.
Some 16 out of the 20 Premier League clubs—also including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City—backed LGBT+ equality in football by posting rainbow-themed profile pictures and messages to mark the Stonewall campaign on Facebook this week.
However, homophobic trolls were quick to respond by posting anti-LGBT+ comments.
Homophobic trolls “say no to LGBT” on Premier League clubs’ Facebook pages
After Arsenal FC updated its profile picture to include a rainbow-striped logo, one homophobic user commented: “Say no to LGBT ️ ⛔️.”
Their anti-gay messaged has been “liked” by more than 4,000 people.
“God Created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.”
—a Facebook comment on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Facebook page
A similar homophobic message—”SAY NO TO LGBT…”—was left on Chelsea Football Club’s Facebook page after it updated its profile picture in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign, and has been “liked” by more than 5,000 people.
A homophobic comment left on Arsenal’s Facebook page. (Arsenal/Facebook)
“But football is for men not for gays,” one person commented after Manchester City changed its cover photo to a Rainbow Laces image. Their post has been “liked” more than 350 times.
And, after Wolverhampton Wanderers FC showed solidarity for the rainbow laces initiative, one person responded: “God Created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.”
Other Facebook users defender Premier League support for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces
Other social media users, however, supported the pro-LGBT+ message from the Premier League teams.
“Good stuff. There is no place for homophobia in football or anywhere in sport, no more than there is racism,” one person posted after Tottenham Hotspur gave its profile picture an LGBT+ makeover.
“Plenty of the comments here demonstrate why this is required. Spurs are showing some leadership here and it makes me proud to support them.”
One user commented on Chelsea’s Facebook page: “Total respect for LGBT community! Chelsea is the best! ️ ⚽.”
And one person wrote on Liverpool FC’s profile picture update: “Football, a game for everyone. Nice gesture Reds ✌✌.”
A fourth Facebook user posting on Leicester City Football Club’s profile picture update said: “As a city fan for 40 years I think it’s pathetic the hateful and homophobic comments on this post.
“It’s a rainbow lace get over it! Most of the people commenting never been to a City game in their lives !
“I sit in my season ticket seat win, lose or draw with some of England’s best tolerant and diverse fans ever! LCFC forever and thanks for changing your pic!”
