Manchester United abandons LGBTQ+ plan 'due to player's belief'

Reports suggest that Manchester United has scrapped a planned LGBTQ+ initiative that has been in place for two seasons due to a player's refusal to participate.

This happened in the context of Premier League clubs embracing the Stonewall charity's Rainbow Laces campaign to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.

Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, was one of many who wore a special rainbow armband during a successful game against Everton, however, another inclusive gesture by United was abandoned.

The Athletic states that United's players planned to wear a rainbow piece of clothing for the third consecutive season, but their new recruit, Noussair Mazraoui, declined to participate.

The ex-Bayern Munich defender, citing his Muslim faith, didn't want to wear a pride-themed Adidas jacket. As a result, his teammates opted not to wear the jacket either to avoid singling him out.

This resolution was reached just hours before the Sunday game, but it did not sit well with everyone in the United dressing room. United players have previously sported rainbow jerseys and an Adidas jacket symbolising LGBTQ+ acceptance.

Despite some players, like Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, opting not to wear the armband, and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi being formally rebuked for scribing religious messages, Fernandes emphasised that his wearing of the armband serves as a mark of respect and a token of support to LGBTQ+ fans.

Manchester United released a statement to The Athletic affirming their commitment to diversity and inclusion, and stating that respect is due for players' individual perspectives, even when these opinions diverge from the club's stance.

United has a £900 million partnership with Adidas, who designed a jacket intended for use until this decision was made. The sportswear firm is yet to provide an official statement.

Mazraoui, a £15 million purchase from Bayern, has previously demonstrated support on Instagram for his Moroccan teammate Zakaria Aboukhlal when Aboukhlal opted out of France’s Ligue One's rainbow campaign.