A Premier League star accuses his club of making him appear gay.

A Premier League star accuses his club of making him appear gay.

An unnamed Premier League footballer reportedly contacted his club after feeling uncomfortable with repeated promotional exposure during the Rainbow Laces campaign period, fearing he was "perceived as gay".

The case comes as the Premier League launches a new inclusion campaign aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ people in football.

According to a report by The Athletic, the player appeared on the cover of his club's match program during the Rainbow Laces campaign for two consecutive seasons, which led him to worry about how fans and the public might interpret this visibility.

This concern comes amid changes in the league's approach to LGBTQ+ campaigns. The Premier League has ended its long-standing partnership with the Stonewall organization, meaning captains are no longer required to wear rainbow armbands, and players are no longer required to use rainbow laces or warm-up kits in the colors of the Pride movement. Instead, the league is exploring other symbols of support, including the possible introduction of an LGBTQ+ themed match ball in future seasons. However, this year's LGBTQ+ match week, scheduled for February 6-12, is considered too soon for this change to be implemented.

This shift follows the reported reluctance of some players, in both the Premier League and the English Football League, to participate in previous initiatives.

Last season, Manchester United abandoned plans to wear an Adidas jacket in LGBTQ colors before a match against Everton after defender Noussair Mazraoui refused to wear it. Similarly, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy chose not to wear a rainbow armband, citing his religious beliefs.

The Athletic report clarifies that the anonymous player's complaint was not aimed at opposing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, but rather at avoiding being mischaracterized, as the player feared being perceived as gay rather than an ally.

As part of this revamped campaign, the Premier League has partnered with London-based marketing agency Nomad Studio to promote inclusion while strengthening internal support mechanisms for players and staff seeking help with LGBTQ+ issues.