- Russian World Cup goals will directly fund initiatives to make football more inclusive to the LGBT+ community. Despite the home nation’s policy of discrimination.
- ‘Rainbow Russians’ campaign supported by high-profile LGBT+ advocates including Caitlyn Jenner, Gareth Thomas, Mark Foster, Lianne Sanderson, Nigel Owens, Christopher Biggins and more.
- Paddy Power guarantee a minimum £50,000 donation… it’s just much more fun if it’s funded by Russian goals!
Russia will be cheered on by a surprise new set of supporters in the World Cup opener tomorrow – as the LGBT+ community backs the typically homophobic nation.
That’s because the Russian team – whether they know it or not – will be directly funding a campaign to tackle homophobia in football.
For every goal the host nation score, Paddy Power will donate £10,000 to fund a number of causes dedicated to making football more LGBT+ inclusive.
Working with Attitude magazine’s Foundation, Paddy Power’s donations will:
- Challenge LGBT+ prejudice on and off the field
- Support footballers and those in the game in coming out
- Fund educational programmes in schools and colleges
- Make grass-roots teams safe spaces for LGBT+ players
The LGBT+ community have come out in force to support the campaign and thereby the Russian football team…
Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, Rugby League legend Keegan Hirst, swimmer Mark Foster, international rugby referee Nigel Owens, England women’s internationals Lianne Sanderson and Jordan Nobbs, England cricketer Danni Wyatt, actor Christopher Biggins and choreographer Louie Spence have all revealed themselves to be “Rainbow Russians” and are urging the LGBT+ population to stand in solidarity with Putin’s boys.
Given Russia’s suspiciously easy group, it seems implausible that they would fail to score throughout their home tournament but, just in case, Paddy Power have guaranteed a minimum donation of £50,000.
Spokesman Paddy Power said:
“Given they invented Russian Dolls, you’d be forgiven for thinking Russia wouldn’t have an issue with women being into other women.
“Likewise, their appreciation for bears is one shared around the world by the LGBT+ population, so it really is astonishing that they have not used their stewardship of this tournament to champion LGBT+ inclusivity.
“As a result, we’ve stepped in to help. When Russia Put-in a goal, we’ll Put-in £10,000 to Attitude magazine’s Foundation, who will use the funds to make football more LGBT+ inclusive. I cannot wait to see the LGBT+ community get behind the Russians – or the Russians’ baffled reaction!”
Darren Styles OBE, publisher of Attitude, said:
“When Paddy Power approached us with this idea we leapt at the chance. The LGBT+ community has a long history of reclaiming and adopting behaviours, words and styles that were intended to discriminate against us, so for this tournament we’re adopting Russia.
“The World Cup is meant to be about inclusivity, but thanks to the hosts – and those who chose the hosts – this tournament (and the next, in Qatar) is taking place in a nation with laws that discriminate against the LGBT+ population.
“This is completely unacceptable and, therefore, we welcome the opportunity to benefit from Russia’s success and make unwitting allies of their national team. It will be hugely satisfying to see a goal from Russia send a message of equal love.”
–ENDS–
For more information, please contact Hamish.Murdoch@synergy.global or Lee.Price@paddypower.com
NEWSFLASH 14th June 2018: