Manchester United Abandons Plan To Wear LGBTQ+ Jacket During Football Match After Muslim Player's Refusal

English football club Manchester United decided against wearing jackets in support of the LGBTQ+ community during their Premier League match against Everton on Sunday (2 November).

The decision came after a player declined to wear the jacket due to his religious beliefs.

According to the Athletic, the player in question was new Manchester United signing Noussair Mazraoui, who cited his Muslim faith as the reason to not put the jacket on.

To avoid singling him out, other players also opted against wearing the jacket.

Meanwhile, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes wore a rainbow captain’s armband in the same game.

Rainbow Devils, Manchester United’s LGBTQ+ supporters club, said that players were entitled to their own opinions.

“Players are entitled to hold their own individual opinions, particularly in relation to their faith, and these may sometimes differ from the club’s position. The reason being that one of the matchday squad had refused to wear the jacket on the grounds of their personally held beliefs,” the group said.

“Therefore, to maintain the team ethos and togetherness, none of the players would be wearing them," it added.

“We respect the right of this player to have his own views, whilst also feeling disappointed that he put the rest of the squad into a position where they felt that they couldn’t wear their jackets. We also worry what kind of negative effect this incident might have on any player at the club who may be struggling with their sexuality," it added.

In another incident, the English Football Association decided on Wednesday not to take disciplinary action against Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

Guehi had written ‘Jesus Loves You’ on a rainbow armband during his team’s victory over Ipswich.

Also Read: Favourable Views Of India Among Canadians Plummet Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions, Finds Survey