Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy has reportedly refused to wear a rainbow armband during his team’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, citing his Muslim faith as the reason.
The weekend marked the return of the Rainbow Laces campaign, an initiative by Stonewall aimed at promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in football and addressing homophobia in the sport. Introduced in 2013, the campaign encourages clubs to display rainbow corner flags, and for captains to wear rainbow armbands and laces. While most teams participated, Morsy abstained due to his religious beliefs.
Ipswich Town, newly promoted to the Premier League, emphasised their support for the campaign in a statement. “Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone. We proudly support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance,” a club spokesperson stated.
The club highlighted its ongoing commitment to inclusivity, mentioning that its men’s and women’s teams had participated in LGBTQ+ football sessions. It also pledged further initiatives, including a stadium-wide display supporting the campaign during Tuesday’s home match against Crystal Palace.
“At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain, Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband due to his religious beliefs. We will continue to grow an environment where all are valued and respected, both on and off the pitch,” the club added.
Morsy’s decision aligns with similar cases in football. Last season, Sheffield United captain Anel Ahmedhodzic declined to wear a rainbow armband without providing an official reason. Additionally, players such as Orkun Kokcu of Feyenoord and Idrissa Gueye of PSG have previously objected to participating in such campaigns, also citing religious grounds.
Research from Stonewall highlights ongoing challenges for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. Their findings indicate that 27 per cent of LGBTQ+ individuals feel unwelcome in community sports groups, and one in five LGBTQ+ people who attended live sporting events in the past year reported experiencing discrimination. These statistics underline the continued need for initiatives like Rainbow Laces to foster greater inclusivity.
