15.02.2017

Danish Players’ Association launch anti-homophobia campaign

The Danish Football Players' Association have announced a new season-long campaign aimed at tackling homophobia across all levels of football and raise awareness to the support LGBT people have in the sport.

At matches, team captains will wear rainbow armbands and players rainbow shoe laces. Clubs and fans will be called to create LGBTQ inclusive tifos and to produce rainbow-colored logos.

A social media campaign will also be implemented and a hotline application will be set up for players and fans to report homophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination witnessed during matches.

"We want to combat homophobia," said Jeppe Curth, Chairman of the Danish Soccer Players’ Association. "It’s as simple as that. Homophobia does not have a place in sports. We acknowledge that there is a problem with homophobia in the world of football."

In addition, several players will march in the Copenhagen Pride parade, which will take place between 15-20 August.

Lars Henriksen, Chairman of Copenhagen Pride, praised the campaign and highlighted a partnership established between the two as part of the city's Winter Pride Week, celebrated last week: "We sincerely hope that this campaign will have an impact on homophobia and transphobia in Danish football and serve to change the hearts and minds of players and fans of all ages and backgrounds."

The campaign counts with the support of some of the countries biggest stars, including the Danish national team player Mathias Zanka Jorgensen.

"I think people at the stadium say and yell things that might be discriminatory and the same thing unfortunately happens in the locker rooms and in amateur leagues. We must change this and I am convinced that we can do so in a unified way." said Jorgensen.

The launch of the campaign coincides with the Football v Homophobia Month of Action, a month-long of activities dedicated to the fight against LGBTphobia in football.

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