Every A-League Women captain will wear a special pride armband to show solidarity with the LGBTQI community amid FIFA’s crackdown on the gesture at the men’s World Cup.
Seven captains of European nations had planned to wear OneLove armbands in Qatar, a nation where same-sex relations are illegal, to promote inclusion and diversity in soccer and society.
The OneLove armband features a heart-shaped logo in the colours of the rainbow flag.
But under a FIFA edict delivered on Monday, the captains would have received yellow cards if they wore the armbands during games.
Adelaide United had commissioned special ‘pride progress’ armbands for their A-League Men/Women Pride Cup double header against Melbourne Victory in February.
But the Reds and skipper Isabel Hodgson, who is gay, have opted to bring the move forward to this weekend, given the situation at the World Cup, with the other 10 club captains planning to also wear the armband.
Hodgson will wear the armband for the remainder of the ALW season.
“In a world that feels severely divided, to be part of a club, this amazing community, which values inclusivity and visibility for marginalised individuals, means the world to me,” Hodgson said in a statement.
“I will wear this armband with immense pride, and I am sure Craig (Goodwin) will do the same for our men’s team, as will any other club captain’ we have in the future.
“We are only at the beginning of our journey into this space and I am looking forward to playing my part in shining a light on these valuable causes.”
The ALW has long been a safe space for the LGBTQI community, while gay footballer Josh Cavallo plays for Adelaide’s men’s team.
The armband was designed by two queer artists from Adelaide, Troy-Anthony Baylis and Dylan Pimm.
The design picks up on the hexagonal shapes of a traditional football and features elements of the transgender pride flag, the progress pride flag and the rainbow flag.
Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA), who worked with 16 Socceroos players on a video message released before the World Cup, calling on Qatar to decriminalise same-sex relations, hailed the move.
“The players want to send a clear message that football is for everyone,” PFA co-chief executive Kate Gill said in a statement.
“We’re very proud of the players showing solidarity and allyship with the LGBTI+ community and their continued leadership in relation to human rights.
“Their courage to use their platform to speak publicly on issues that affect not just them but those within our broader community is testament to what they value and who they are as people.”
