The Premier League has confirmed that captains will no longer be required to wear rainbow captain’s armbands, and players will not be asked to wear pride-themed laces or warm-up shirts as part of LGBTQ+ inclusion shows of support in the 2025–26 season. This marks a shift from previous years when the league participated in the Rainbow Laces campaign run in partnership with the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. The change comes after the Premier League ended its collaboration with Stonewall and announced a new internal inclusion campaign set to launch officially during LGBTQ+ History Month in February.
The rainbow armband and laces, previously worn voluntarily by captains and players, had become a recurring part of the Premier League’s visibility work on LGBTQ+ inclusion. In recent seasons some captains chose not to wear the symbols for personal or religious reasons, and the league emphasised that wearing them was always optional, not compulsory.
Under the new approach, the league is reportedly exploring alternative methods to show support that don’t place direct pressure on individual players. One idea under consideration is using a special pride-themed match ball in designated fixtures during the campaign activation period, because, unlike armbands or laces, players cannot refuse to kick the ball during play.
The shift reflects a broader effort by the Premier League to maintain visibility for LGBTQ+ inclusion while reducing reliance on individual displays, such as armbands or laces, that some players have declined to wear. The new campaign aims to promote inclusion through league-wide branding, matchday elements and coordinated messaging during key matchweeks.
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