Sheffield United player becomes first Premier League star to reject LGBTQ armband in 7 years

Bosnian defender Anel Ahmedhodzic became the first Premier League captain to refuse to wear rainbow laces in seven years.

The 24-year-old assumed the role of captain for Sheffield United in the midweek clash against Liverpool in the absences of John Egan and Chris Basham.

In a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ community, the Premier League requires the captains of all 20 clubs to wear armbands in the traditional rainbow colours in selected games.

Sheffield’s defeat to Liverpool was one of those allocated games, and Ahmedhodzic, who captained the Blades on the day, conspicuously donned a standard armband. 

According to the Daily Mail, this was the first such case—of a club’s captain refusing to partake in the Rainbow Laces campaign—in seven years.

Following the game, Ahmedhodzic was asked about the reason for his decision, and he gave a cryptic answer, saying, “Guess,” without going further to expatiate.

When the manager of the club, Chris Wilder, was asked, he claimed ignorance, claiming it was not the club’s decision and that he was not aware Ahmedhodzic refused to wear the rainbow armband.

“I didn't know,” the coach said. “It's not a club decision or a personal decision. I just didn't know he did that.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea fans are losing patience and faith in Mauricio Pochettino fast, with calls for him to be fired circulating the internet just five months into his reign at Stamford Bridge.