Noussair Mazraoui refuses to don LGBT+ jacket due to religious beliefs

After Noussair Mazraoui declined to participate on religious grounds, Manchester United chose to drop an effort to promote the LGBTQ+ community. According to The Athletic, the Red Devils were scheduled to don an exclusive Adidas jacket prior to Sunday's Premier League game against Everton at Old Trafford. But Mazraoui's refusal to participate, citing his Muslim beliefs, led to the cancellation of those arrangements. 

In order to prevent Mazrouai from being picked out, it was decided that no players were going to wear the attire, which "not everyone" inside the locker room approved of. Adidas, the company that makes the kits, is likewise "disappointed" with the outcome.

Over the weekend, Premier League teams demonstrated their support for the LGBTQ+ community by participating in the Rainbow Laces campaign. In an effort to promote the initiative, Manchester United has previously worn customized uniforms, and players like Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and Bruno Fernandes have all made statements on inclusivity and the importance of making all of the team's supporters feel valued and included.

“Manchester United welcomes fans from all backgrounds” : Statement

The Rainbow Devils, the Manchester United fan community for the LGBTQ+ supporters released a statement stating that, "We respect the right of this player to have his own views, whilst also feeling disappointed that he put the rest of the squad into a position where they felt that they couldn’t wear their jackets. We also worry what kind of negative effect this incident might have on any player at the club who may be struggling with their sexuality. Rainbow Devils will continue to work with Manchester United to support inclusivity, through the One Love initiative and others, as we all continue our work to ensure all LGBTQ+ people feel safe and welcome at Old Trafford, both on and off the pitch.”

In response to that statement, the English Premier League club responding by saying that, "Manchester United welcomes fans from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, and we are strongly committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion. We demonstrate these principles through a range of activities, including support for our Rainbow Devils supporters’ club, and campaigns to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fans and combat all forms of discrimination."