- Campaign issues global call to action for Wednesday 19 February in its #FvH2025 Month of Action
- Players, coaches, fans etc asked to wear something Black and something Pink to show support for tackling homophobia in football
- Feb 19th is International Day Against LGBTQ+-phobia in Sport and the birthday of the late Justin Fashanu
Football players, coaches and fans around the world are being asked to Wear it Black and Pink on Wednesday 19 February in a show of solidarity against discrimination.
The call to action is being organised by the Football v Homophobia (FvH) campaign to mark the International Day Against LGBTQ+-phobia in Sport.
See Calendar of #FvH2025 events and designated matches here
February 19th was the original Day of Action when FvH began back in 2010, with the date chosen to commemorate Justin Fashanu on his birthday.
Fashanu was the first out gay professional footballer. He sadly took his own life in 1998, aged 37, after experiencing both homophobia and racism during and after his playing career.
📣 🩷⚫️ We’re asking you to wear it BLACK and PINK on Wednesday 19 February and show your support for Football v Homophobia… get involved!
Read on to learn more about this call to action…
#FvH2025 /1
— Football v Homophobia (@footballvhomophobia.com) February 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The awareness day of February 19th has been marked more frequently in recent years in Spanish-speaking countries as the “Dia Internacional Contra la Homofobia en el Deporte” (or, “en el Futbol”).
In 2024, FC Barcelona, the Spanish FA (RFEF), and Liga F were among the professional clubs, governing bodies and leagues to send out an anti-homophobia declaration on the day.
In previous years, the day has been marked by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Incorporating the colours of FvH, and in what is LGBT+ History Month in the UK, the campaign is hoping for a large turnout of supporters posting images of themselves on social media wearing Black and Pink, alongside the Month of Action hashtag #FvH2025.
For those who want to be fully on message, it’s possible to buy an FvH T-shirt from the FvH Shop.
Join friends and fellow football fans all around the world by wearing it BLACK and PINK on Wednesday 19th February!
Notes for editors
About Football v Homophobia
Football v Homophobia (FvH) is an international initiative that exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression at all levels of football.
We want football to take a clear stand against homophobia and transphobia so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful game and football leads the way in removing discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more here.
The annual Month of Action for the FvH campaign is held every February, in what is also LGBT+ History Month.
Clubs, groups, leagues and organisations are invited to register now for February 2025. See our 2025 Champions so far here.
FvH provides tailored education sessions for people in football of all age groups.
For more news and content relating to FvH, as well as our Football v Transphobia initiative, visit our archive.
Contacts
Lou Englefield, FvH campaign director
lou@footballvhomophobia.com
Jon Holmes, FvH media consultant
jon@footballvhomophobia.com