Excelsior was the only Eredivisie club this weekend to refuse to participate in OneLove’s rainbow captaincy. Redouan El Yaakoubi did not want to wear the tie against Ajax (7-1 win) and instead wore one with the text ‘respect’ on it. “Last year I did wear it, but there was already a discussion about it. This time I stood up for myself,” says El Yaakoubi in conversation with ESPN.
The OneLove band, which stands for diversity, among other things, was also refused by Orkun Kökçü. Where Feyenoord decided to transfer the band to Gernot Trauner, Excelsior chose to omit the rainbow colours. El Yaakoubi was therefore simply the captain in Amsterdam. “We as captains also have a choice in that,” says the defender. “I hope that the world respects that of me too, that I also have standards and values in that respect. It does not alter the fact that I respect everyone and that everyone can be there, one hundred percent. I hope everyone also respects my standards and values, as I do with everyone else.”
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El Yaakoubi duels with Brian Brobbey.
“I think that many subjects are underexposed, for example poverty”, says El Yaakoubi, who is also very actively committed to underprivileged children with his Dare to Dream foundation. “In that respect, we as players could also do something for that. I hope that the word ‘respect’ is mainly on one, that is the core. I support it in a different way. In my way.”
Milan van Dongen, presenter of ESPN, starts after the interview by reading a statement. “The aim of this action is that everyone is welcome, should be able to be themselves and that no one should be excluded, to help people who struggle with their identity in football and to contribute to the awareness of diversity. Football should be for everyone, regardless of cultural background, skin color, race, sexual preference or religion. And with the latter it naturally chafes a bit.”