Sport

Manchester United dedicates match against Swansea City to LGBT campaign

May 02 2017
Written by Josh Jackman

Manchester United has dedicated a Premier League match to promoting its pro-LGBT campaign.

Players including Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick donned training shirts with the #AllRedAllEqual logo before the game against Swansea City on Sunday.

The logo for the campaign, which promotes “equality, inclusion and diversity,” was also visible on the pitch before the match, covering the entire centre circle.

And outside the stadium, hanging across the front of the club’s iconic East Stand, was the full message of the campaign.

The banner read: “All Red All Equal is Manchester United’s promise to champion equality, diversity and inclusion. To celebrate individualism.

“Accepting people for who they are, embracing the differences that make the world a more exciting place.

“There’s no greater goal than a more equal world.”

Man Utd, the most successful club in Britain, shaped this statement of hope and positivity into a moving video which it released this weekend.

United’s group managing director, Richard Arnold, commented: “The club’s equality work is something that everybody is immensely proud of.

“Everybody can play their part, from players and staff to all of our supporters.

“Old Trafford is a home for all of our fans and we are fortunate to have so many supporters from diverse backgrounds.”

Perhaps the club’s concession of yet another late equaliser at Old Trafford on Sunday was part of its commitment to equality.

On Thursday, United will face Celta Vigo in the first leg of its UEFA Europa League semi-final, coming up against a manager in Eduardo Berizzo who is infamous for a homophobic rant.

In March, United announced it would work with Stonewall “to tackle LGBT issues in sport and society”.

After joining in with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign last year, the club – which is worth £2.2 billion, the third-most in the world – moved to cement its relationship with the charity and the LGBT community.

The partnership will also see United’s ground play host to Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Summit this month, with sports leaders gathering at Old Trafford to gain skills and knowledge for LGBT activism.

It was appropriate that United would be the first British club to partner with Stonewall, considering how iconic the on-field kiss between Gary Neville and Paul Scholes in 2010 has become.

Watch the full video below: