Jake Daniels issues Rainbow Laces rallying cry as he admits Saudi World Cup fear
Jake Daniels has called on his fellow professional footballers to support the Rainbow Laces campaign, as he admitted he would not feel safe playing at the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Blackpool striker became the first English professional footballer to come out as gay for more than 30 years back in May 2022. Since then, the 18-year-old has been a vocal advocate for LGBT+ rights, even as support for the community from within football has taken some backwards steps.
As well as the World Cup in Qatar last year and Saudi being awarded the 2034 edition of the tournament, previous allies such as former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson - who moved to Saudi Arabia in the summer - have left people in the LGBT+ community feeling betrayed. But Daniels hopes that this year's Rainbow Laces campaign can reset the dial.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, in partnership with L’Oreal Paris, Men Expert and Movember, he said: "It's amazing just being able to see footballers that might not be gay accepting and being able to push that forward with rainbow laces or a rainbow armband.
"Whatever it is, just to make that difference. The impact on football just proves that footballers are with people all the way. I see more pride flags being waved at football games, we're seeing other little differences here and there.
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"100 percent there could be more changes but I think it's a good progress. There's definitely been a difference and I'll 100 percent be wearing my rainbow laces and armband or whatever it takes for me to push that across."
Jake Daniels has urged his fellow footballers to support the Rainbow Laces campaignWhile Daniels has been pleased with the progress made so far, he also hit out at FIFA for making his life more dangerous. The striker blasted the decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup, insisting he would not feel safe to play in the tournament, with it being held in a country where homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty.
"Obviously it's difficult, I wouldn't feel safe if I was involved in that to go and play over there if I'm being completely honest. So it's a frustrating topic and it's difficult. But you'd think with such a massive organisation, with the times now..."
"We're trying to push forward inclusive sport but then they go and do that," he added. "It is hurtful. With me, I'm the person to go to, I'm the one that's out in British football and they need someone like me to be able to say what the problems are and what we can change.
"Obviously with the World Cup, we took one step forward and then five steps backwards with it being in Qatar. I think we need to get male football on a level where women's football is at because they're so much more ahead of what male football is."
Daniels has spoken previously about the mental health battles he faced before his coming out. Taking from that experience, he has now demanded that football place a greater emphasis on helping those struggling with their sexuality.
"We don't know how many people are struggling with their sexuality. Statistically, there could be two or three gay males in every team. I didn't expect it to blow up as much as it did when I first came out," Daniels said.
Daniels also hit out at the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia (Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock)"But being able to be a role model and be the first in football, lead on it as much as I can and push male football to make it so much more inclusive, that's what I want to do, I want to be that role model for people and push it as much as possible.
"Just to see another footballer to have the courage to come out that would be amazing. And it could start to form a little bubble of footballers who are trying to do the same thing and that would be the biggest thing. But little changes can make a massive difference."
Daniels is hopeful that more gay footballers will soon be able to live as their true authentic selves. And he had a final message to those who are thinking of coming out, insisting he would be with them every step of the way.
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"It's going to be difficult but the best thing I did was speak out and they know where I am if they need to speak to me about anything. I want to be there to support them the whole way," Daniels said.
"Every day it gets better and better. I feel amazing myself, my football's going well and I love being able to help other people with problems that they're going through. In the initial time that I came out, I had a game the day after and I scored four goals and I felt so amazing.
"It's definitely helped. I'm not having to constantly be reminded that I was living my life as a lie. It's been an amazing thing and it's helped me focus on my football, which has always been in my life."
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