Jamie Vardy presents a rainbow corner flag and a goodwill message to the Leicester LGBT+ supporters organization.
‘Keep up the excellent job!’ Jamie Vardy writes on a rainbow corner flag donated to Leicester City’s LGBT+ fans club Foxes Pride after they received hostile remarks on social media following the striker’s winning goal at Sheffield United.
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City has scrawled a message of goodwill to the club’s LGBT+ fans group on the rainbow corner flag he smashed while celebrating his winning goal against Sheffield United.
An ecstatic Vardy rushed and slid into the Pride flag, which was bearing the Pride flag colors to honor the annual activation of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, sending splinters flying after scoring in the final minute to seal a 2-1 Premier League victory at Bramall Lane on Sunday.
Although the striker, a lifelong Sheffield Wednesday supporter, restored the flag in the correct location, he was given a yellow card for his excessive celebration.
The photographs rapidly went viral, and the LGBT+ and allies supporters organization Foxes Pride in Leicester were besieged with tweets from other users misunderstanding Vardy’s actions as a negative response to the campaign.
However, the club tweeted a photograph on Twitter on Tuesday night showing the flag now with a written message: ‘FOXES PRIDE – keep up the fantastic job!’ and Vardy’s signature.
“All at Foxes Pride have been saddened by LGBT-phobic comments online over the last few days after Vardy’s corner flag goal celebration,” the organisation wrote in an extra tweet.
“We are proud and grateful for the continued support that Vardy and Leicester City FC continue to show for Rainbow Laces, LGBT fans, and Foxes Pride.”
“Since being established in 2015, Foxes Pride have always appreciated the support of all involved at Leicester City,” said the group’s chair, Graeme Smith.
“Vardy’s gesture exemplifies our football club’s inclusive culture.” We are honored to be able to collaborate with them not only during Rainbow Laces, but all year.”
Rainbow Laces Day is observed nationally on Wednesday, with sports fans throughout the country invited to lace up and post to social media in support of the campaign’s tagline, “Make Sport Everyone’s Game.”
Sky Sports is a TeamPride member that supports Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign. If you’d like to help inspire people in sports by sharing your own LGBT+ or ally experience, please contact us.
