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New single & video - Tru Trilla "End the Day" ft Ruste Juxx & Julius Luciano of Shoe Gang
By urbanelite, in Music
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Several leading Premier League clubs have reacted angrily to the manner in which their players have been approached to participate in a campaign to raise awareness of homophobia in football.
The gay-rights charity Stonewall, in conjunction with bookmaker Paddy Power, have sent rainbow coloured laces to all Premier League players in the hope that they will wear them in their games this weekend.
However, clubs including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be unhappy at not being consulted about the campaign at any stage prior to the laces being delivered to training grounds earlier this week.
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Several clubs are said to believe that Paddy Power are using what is a serious issue as a publicity stunt.
It is also reported that the Premier League and anti-racism group Kick it Out have privately expressed concern over the scheme.
"We’ve not heard from Paddy Power other than when the box of laces arrived on Monday morning," the Mail reports a leading official at a Premier League club saying. "In short, the whole thing has been embarrassing and infuriating."
Tottenham were among the clubs to issue a statement saying their players will not be wearing the laces this weekend, but they would be happy to work with Stonewall in the future.
"Whilst the campaign message is positive and one we support, there was unfortunately no prior consultation with ourselves, the Premier League or other clubs," the statement read.
"Such consultation would have enabled us to avoid issues in respect of associated third-party commercial entities.
"We have contacted Stonewall directly and let them know that we are supportive and keen to discuss ways in which we can work together going forward.
"We are committed to working with organisations such as Stonewall and other agencies to eradicate homophobia in football and society."
Manchester United also revealed that their players will not be wearing the laces.
"The club supports the League’s central anti-discrimination efforts through Kick It Out," read a United statement.
"It is a positive move that Stonewall are now speaking to the League directly, rather than working with a commercial provider on a campaign without involving clubs or players at any stage."
Everton – who have an existing partnership with Paddy Power – have already given their support to the campaign while Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton wore the laces in the draw with Brighton on Wednesday.
The campaign had already come under fire from another gay rights group who have criticised its slogan 'Right Behind Gay Players' for being a "sexualised innuendo".
'Football v Homophobia' says it withdrew support for the campaign after the bookmaker refused to change the tag line.
A statement from the group said: "Our discomfort is with the reliance on sexualised innuendo and stereotypes about gay men.
"We feel it is incongruous to run a campaign aiming to change football culture whilst using language which reinforces the very stereotypes and caricatures that, in the long term, ensure that homophobia persists."
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time_bomb
Raheem sterling will come out sooner or later.
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Thizz
Even though he's got like 5 baby mums
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Lenny
I think its hilarious that Joey Barton is associated with this capaign
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mark_INIESTA_davies
It's an illuminati trick to see who don't wear the gay laces.
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Nidge Weasle
danny gabbidon is meant to be a shirt lifter
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Bobby Reds
That mug will do ANYTHING for attention
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