Bookmaker Paddy Power has today paired up with leading gay rights charity Stonewall to tackle homophobia in football, by distributing rainbow coloured football boot laces to every professional player in the UK.

There are over 5,000 professional footballers across England, Scotland and Wales but none of them are openly gay – and it is widely recognised that many gay footballers are too worried about the impact on their careers and personal lives to ‘come out’. A far more likely scenario than there being no gay footballers, something that has odds of over a quadragintillion* to one.

Paddy Power and Stonewall have created rainbow coloured football bootlaces and distributed them to every footballer across all 134 professional clubs in the UK. Each of these players are being asked to wear the special laces in their club fixtures on September 21st and 22nd to show they support gay footballers. The simple message of “Right Behind Gay Footballers” is designed to kick start a fundamental change in attitude – it’s not about forcing anyone to come out.?Today, Monday 16th September sees the start of a week’s worth of activity to shine the spotlight on homophobia in football. A series of media partnerships will see daily advertising and editorial support for the campaign across traditional media, billboard sites, and through social media with the aim of getting support from footballers, celebrities, fans, and the public.?Players can simply support the campaign by wearing the rainbow coloured laces in their weekend fixtures and using their extraordinary influence to set a benchmark in world sport. Fans, celebrities, and the general public can simply show their support by taking to social media and using the hashtag #RBGF, standing for Right Behind Gay Footballers, during the week and in the build-up to the weekend fixtures.

Paddy Power, the spokesman for the bookmaker, said; “We love football but it needs a kick up the arse. In most other areas of life people can be open about their sexuality and it’s time for football to take a stand and show players it doesn’t matter what team they play for. Fans can show they are right behind this by simply tweeting using the #RBGF hashtag whilst all players have to do is lace up this weekend to help set an example in world sport.”

Stonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty said: ‘It’s time for football clubs and players to step up and make a visible stand against homophobia in our national game. That’s why we’re working with Paddy Power on this fun and simple campaign. By wearing rainbow laces players will send a message of support to gay players and can begin to drag football in to the 21st century.’