Premier League Ends Stonewall Partnership, to Launch Own Inclusion Campaign

The Premier League has ended its partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, bringing an end to its participation in the long-running Rainbow Laces campaign, Sport360NG reports.

The league and Stonewall began working together in 2017 to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in football. From 2025, the Premier League will replace the initiative with its own equality and diversity campaign, set to coincide with LGBTQ+ History Month in February, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Premier League officials say they will continue to collaborate with clubs to combat discrimination, with current education programmes and resources remaining in place.

A Stonewall spokesperson acknowledged that the Rainbow Laces campaign had evolved over the years, gaining support across different sports, including significant backing from the FA and the Women’s Super League.

Launched in 2013, Rainbow Laces had the backing of every Premier League club, with players wearing rainbow-coloured laces and captains donning rainbow armbands to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. However, not all players took part in recent seasons. Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy declined to wear the armband last year citing religious beliefs, while Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi replaced the rainbow message with “I ❤ Jesus”. Manchester United also scrapped plans to wear jackets in support of the campaign after one player objected.

Separately, Premier League players have agreed to continue taking the knee in support of the “No Room for Racism” campaign during the 2025-26 season, but only on two occasions, both in October during Black History Month. The move follows the England women’s team’s decision to stop performing the gesture altogether.