FA sued over Rainbow Laces campaign

A Newcastle United supporter banned from attending matches is planning to sue the FA over the Rainbow Laces campaign, arguing it violates their rules against political messaging.

Linzi Smith was barred from attending Magpies games until 2026 after sharing gender-critical views on social media. A complainant labeled her as transphobic, telling the club trans individuals would feel unsafe near her.

According to ‘Express’, Smith’s legal team has sent a letter to the FA claiming the Rainbow Laces campaign endorses the idea of gender ideology, which posits that an individual's gender can differ from their biological sex. According to The Telegraph, the letter accuses the FA of acting “unlawfully by encouraging, authorizing, or directing players in the Premier League to wear equipment such as boot laces and armbands in rainbow colors.”

The letter argues the campaign violates rules on “conveying a political message, statement, or image” because it supports a disputed political viewpoint that gender ideology should shape policy or law.

This year’s campaign sparked controversy, with Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy refusing to wear the rainbow armband due to his Muslim faith, and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi receiving criticism for writing religious messages on his rainbow armband despite warnings from the FA that it breached regulations.

The letter accuses the FA of an ‘irrational’ stance regarding Morsy and Guehi, stating the FA “rightly disapproved of Mr Guehi's religious message, statement, or image” but took the “opposite approach to a politically prohibited message, namely rainbow laces and armbands.”

Describing their stance as “irrational and discriminatory,” the letter argues the FA treats religious messages as inappropriate while accepting political messaging without proper justification.

Smith, an advocate for lesbian, bisexual, and women’s rights, stated: “Refusing to participate [in the Rainbow Laces campaign] invites abuse and criticism. No player, staff member, or fan should be compelled to support something conflicting with their personal religion or belief. Politics have no place in football. It is a space to escape, not get pulled into political discourse.”

Reflecting on her experience, Smith added: “This isn’t about inclusion. If it were, I wouldn’t have faced sanctions from my own club. It is about imposing a contested ideology on people, regardless of their views.”