All matches in the upcoming round of the Eredivisie and the Kitchen Champion Division are dominated by broader LGBTI acceptance, the competitions report in a joint press release. On the weekend of 15, 16 and 17 October, all clubs in the Eredivisie and the Kitchen Champion Division will wear special #OneLove captain’s armbands, special corner flags will be flying and special pins and uniforms will be visible.
The actions, which will also be taken over in the Pure Energie Women’s Eredivisie and the Eredivisie Futsal, follow the weekend after International Coming Out Day. “All clubs are committed to the message that everyone is welcome, should be able to be themselves and that no one should be excluded,” the leagues report. “Unfortunately, this message, which is self-evident to many, is still current and necessary”, the Keuken Kampioen Division and the Eredivisie CV indicate.
The leagues rely on research by the Mulier Institute (2021) among players, which shows that the general acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality in football scores an unsatisfactory score (4.6), which is comparable to the results from 2014. In recent years, around International Coming Out Day campaigned more often on the football fields for LGBTI acceptance, but apparently these initiatives have not led to a significant improvement in acceptance.
Rainbow corner flags will be flying at all home playing clubs this weekend; all coaches and (assistant) referees wear a rainbow pin. ESPN pays attention to the theme in its broadcasts, by showing special microphones, pins and other expressions. Telstar and FC Volendam have a world first on Friday, because both teams will compete in a specially designed rainbow shirt in the mutual ‘Fisherman’s Derby’. It is the first time in history that two teams will meet in a rainbow shirt.
The broad initiative is supported by the KNVB. “Next weekend, Dutch football will jointly proclaim that everyone is welcome and should be able to be themselves. Including one captain’s armband. Gender, sexual preference, colour, origin and religion, we don’t care. Our football belongs to everyone”, reads a statement from the football association on social media.
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