Manchester United scrap rainbow jackets after player refuses on religious grounds

Manchester United Football Club abandoned plans to wear Pride-themed rainbow jackets during their English Premier League match against Everton FC after a player refused to do so, citing his religious beliefs. The decision was made hours before the match when Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui, a recent $19 million (£15m) signing from Bayern Munich, said that he could not wear the jacket due to his Muslim faith, reported The Athletic.

United players previously supported the Rainbow Laces campaign by wearing similar jackets during pre-match warm-ups. This year, they planned to wear rainbow jackets only for the walk-out. When Mazraoui expressed his unwillingness, the team decided none of them would wear it to prevent singling him out. The Guardian reported that some players were unhappy with this last-minute decision.

🚨🚨| NEW: Manchester United players have ABANDONED the club’s plans to wear an Adidas jacket in support of the LGBTQ+ community ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton after defender Noussair Mazraoui REFUSED to join the initiative. 🏳️‍🌈❌

[@TheAthleticFC] pic.twitter.com/wGJjQ3IIjW

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) December 4, 2024

The club, which declined to confirm the identity of the player in question, reaffirmed their commitment to diversity and inclusion, welcoming fans from all backgrounds, including the “LGBTQ+” community.

Rainbow Devils acknowledged United’s ongoing support for the Rainbow Laces campaign, but expressed their disappointment in the turn of events. “We respect the right of this player to have his own views,” said the group, “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.”

Mazraoui’s decision comes after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy, an Egyptian international, opted not to wear the rainbow armband during the team’s weekend match against Nottingham Forest, citing his religious beliefs. The decision made Morsy, a practising Muslim, the only Premier League captain last weekend not to wear the armband.

READ: PSG football club denies negotiations with Mohamed Salah