UK football clubs to support The Big Step Yellow Laces campaign
Football clubs across England, Scotland and Wales will participate in The Big Step’s yellow laces campaign this weekend.
The laces will be visible across seven different competitions, and falls on Addiction Awareness Week. The organisation aims to bring an end to all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.
English Football League club Forest Green Rovers will wear the yellow laces in their FA Cup first-round match against South Shields on Saturday, with the game set to be broadcast live on BBC One.
“Gambling companies are exploiting football and football fans, making huge profits at the expense of people’s lives,” said Forest Green Rovers Owner and Chairman Dale Vince.
“Their overwhelming presence in our national sport is hyper-normalising an addictive harmful product, with only self-regulation to protect the millions of young fans exposed – this is something Forest Green Rovers stands against.
“We will proudly wear yellow laces this weekend to reinforce our support for the campaign to end all gambling advertising in football.”
Also wearing the laces this weekend are Lewes Women, who play in the second-highest tier of women’s football, and Scottish Women’s Premier League club Glasgow City.
Non-league clubs Dulwich Hamlet, Billericay Town, Lewes, Llantwit Major and Headingley AFC are also involved.
Tranmere Rovers meanwhile will support the campaign by warming up in yellow t-shirts before its FA Cup first-round match against Carlisle United on Saturday.
The Big Step Founder James Grimes commented: “Gambling is often a hidden addiction, and we wear bright yellow to highlight there is no shame and to remember all of the bright lives taken by gambling.
“This weekend is a bold reminder to the government that campaigners for gambling reform and our supportive football clubs are not going away until people can go to a match and support their heroes without being encouraged to gamble.
“Football is worshipped by millions and cannot be used as a platform to advertise addictive gambling products. We applaud and thank all the clubs taking part.”
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