Watford FC and principal partner Stake.com, a crypto sports betting and casino operator, have announced combined support for the Rainbow Laces LGBTQ+ inclusivity campaign. 

The joint pledge will see LED branding at Vicarage Road – usually dedicated to marketing for Stake.com – changed to support Rainbow Laces, a campaign encouraging greater inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people in football by the Stonewall charity.

Occurring during the club’s match against Chelsea on Wednesday 1 Decmeber, the collaboration will see Stake.com, which is currently in the debut year of its partnership with the Premier League side, work with Watford supporter’s group Proud Hornets.

“We’re very proud of working with Stake.com on our Rainbow Lace activities for this year,” remarked Paul O’Brien, Commercial Director at Watford FC.

“At Watford Football Club we pride ourselves on our equality and diversity activities, therefore it is with great delight that our principal sponsor have also taken the Stonewall campaign to their heart.”

Sharing his own views on inclusivity in football, Richard Masters, Premier League Chairman, detailed how the sport has a ‘remarkable power to bring people together’ and emphasised how inclusivity is a ‘riperity for the Premier League and our clubs’.

“We and our clubs play an important role in encouraging people to support the LGBTQ+ community,” he said.

“During the Rainbow Laces campaign, we showcase the wide variety of projects and initiatives being conducted all year round to highlight that equality and inclusion are central to everything we do.”

Previous social responsibility initiatives by Watford FC, meanwhile, have seen the Premier League club enter into a partnership with RocoverMe, an app developed by three junior NHS doctors with the aim of increasing awareness of gambling treatment options.

Meanwhile, outside of football Stake.com maintains sponsorship deals with outside of football with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – with one focused on Latin America and Asia – and fighter Israel Adesanya.

Commenting on the operator’s new initiative with its Premier League partner, Dominic Rae, Sponsorships Manager for Stake.com, said: “Stake.com are committed to inclusivity. We too believe that football is for everyone and we’re proud to support the Premier League and Stonewall’s campaign by updating our sponsorship assets at Vicarage Road for the visit of Chelsea.”

Previous articleFenway reaches Pittsburgh Penguins takeover deal
Next articleComplexity unites gamers and celebrities with new Stars platform