Rainbow Laces

[bertlambshank]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

Or a betting company pulling the pants down of a charity for a bit of self publicity.If you want to blame anyone blame Stonewall.Paddy power have form on advert Highjacking,it looks like they have done it again.The more I think about it Stonewall should of said to PP 'thanks but no thanks'.

I'm not looking to blame Stonewall or Paddypower, my point is that someone within British football should have come up with a similar idea many many years ago

Didn't they try something a few years ago but scrapped it because they couldn't find any players willing to front the campaign?

I remember they cost that twat from Arsenal 100 grand at the Euro's with his PP boxers.

[Legion]

Or get behind it. Sorry in advance.

[danlanza]

Or get behind it. Sorry in advance.

Looks like you are up shit creek without a paddle Legion.

[N'ZMAV]

Rainbow laces? I remember Rainbow drops.

[Dave]

I think to be honest it reflects badly on the FA/Premier League/Clubs, that it's taken a bookmaker to join forces with Stonewall to try to make a statement about it.

Or a betting company pulling the pants down of a charity for a bit of self publicity.If you want to blame anyone blame Stonewall.Paddy power have form on advert Highjacking,it looks like they have done it again.The more I think about it Stonewall should of said to PP 'thanks but no thanks'.

I'm not looking to blame Stonewall or Paddypower, my point is that someone within British football should have come up with a similar idea many many years ago

Didn't they try something a few years ago but scrapped it because they couldn't find any players willing to front the campaign?

To answer my own question, the answer is sort of.

The FA wanted to launch a campaign in 2010 with a member of each squad speaking out about homophobia, but the Premier League vetoed it.

According to Gordon Taylor, "It's not a straightforward issue and it would be unfair to ask an individual player to back a campaign like this in case they got targeted by football crowds".

So much for there not really being an issue.

[danlanza]

Rainbow laces? I remember Rainbow drops.

Rainbow sherbert ?

[Rodders]

I can see where the commercial stance on non-participation is coming from, but it is frankly, to pinch Louzie's phrase, bollux.

The club don't insist that e.g. Stoke City players and travelling support (yes, ho ho!) remove Bet365's logo from their shirts when they come to Villa Park because Dafabet won't like it, do they?

Yet there they are on the pitch and in the stands, displaying a commercial rival's logo all over the world on the telly ON OUR BLOODY PITCH!

I mean, seriously - how big can you actually get the words "Paddy Power*" on a pair of bloody bootlaces?

Does it really matter, given the cause??

I sincerely hope that all the non-participating clubs relent before KO tomorrow.

*Paddy Power may well be a bunch of robbing bastards, but they're not major sponsors in the Prem (minor deal with the Arse, RedScouse and BlueScouse), and have in fact just saved Farnborough FC from administration: http://blog.paddypower.com/2013/08/13/paddy-power-turns-farnborough-fc-into-the-greatest-team-of-all-time/

[supertom]

What is the latest? Are Villa participating or not?

[Dante Lavelli]

I also feel that as soon as a player does come out as gay, we will all see what a none issue homophobia in football actually is.

Justin Fashanu?

I hope things have moved on from the 80s, but you never know.

I'm not saying the "banter" of villa fans signing about Upson is correct but do you think we would still sing the song if he was openly gay?  I've never sung the song so I'm not sure what the motivation is/was but I suspect that part of the insult/banter is calling a player gay when they're not. 

[saunders_heroes]

I also feel that as soon as a player does come out as gay, we will all see what a none issue homophobia in football actually is.

Justin Fashanu?

I hope things have moved on from the 80s, but you never know.

I'm not saying the "banter" of villa fans signing about Upson is correct but do you think we would still sing the song if he was openly gay?  I've never sung the song so I'm not sure what the motivation is/was but I suspect that part of the insult/banter is calling a player gay when they're not. 

I don't get that argument. Imagine a genuine gay footballer hearing that song and thinking, "Christ, Upson isn't even gay and still they humiliate him". What's the chance of him coming out then?
And yes I do think Villa fans would have sung that song if Upson was openly gay, basically because casual homophobia still seems to be acceptable where as racism isn't.

[Dave Cooper please]

I'm not saying the "banter" of villa fans signing about Upson is correct but do you think we would still sing the song if he was openly gay? 

Yes they would, and probably a whole lot worse.
I have absolutely no faith in a hell of a lot of football fans including many of those of Aston Villa.

[olaftab]

It's a relief being coloured at least it's open and everyone has to deal with. Surely same should apply to sexuality. Come out and deal head on with these who have a problem with it.

[UK Redsox]

Disappointing to see the organisers, teams and league bungle this rainbow thing.

[Bad English]

I can't believe this. Five pages before someone gets a Bungle reference in.

[Ego Uhiogu]

I can see where the commercial stance on non-participation is coming from, but it is frankly, to pinch Louzie's phrase, bollux.

The club don't insist that e.g. Stoke City players and travelling support (yes, ho ho!) remove Bet365's logo from their shirts when they come to Villa Park because Dafabet won't like it, do they?

Yet there they are on the pitch and in the stands, displaying a commercial rival's logo all over the world on the telly ON OUR BLOODY PITCH!

I mean, seriously - how big can you actually get the words "Paddy Power*" on a pair of bloody bootlaces?

Does it really matter, given the cause??

I sincerely hope that all the non-participating clubs relent before KO tomorrow.

*Paddy Power may well be a bunch of robbing bastards, but they're not major sponsors in the Prem (minor deal with the Arse, RedScouse and BlueScouse), and have in fact just saved Farnborough FC from administration: http://blog.paddypower.com/2013/08/13/paddy-power-turns-farnborough-fc-into-the-greatest-team-of-all-time/

They only saved Farnborough from admin for a bit of publicity. They've turned the club into a laughing stock with this name change stunt.