Ruben Amorim has backed his Manchester United players over their decision to not wear specially made LGBTQ+ jackets due to Noussair Mazraoui’s religious beliefs.
United had worked alongside their kit manufacturer Adidas to produce a special jacket for the players to wear as they walked out of the tunnel at Old Trafford for their Premier League game against Everton last Sunday.
However, the plan was abandoned after Mazraoui told his United teammates that he would not wear the jacket because he is a Muslim.
The United squad then decided that no player would wear the jacket in order to prevent Mazraoui from being singled out ahead of the game.
Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Amorim has praised his players’ handling of the situation.
‘It was a group decision as players, as it should be,’ said Amorim.
‘There are three difficult things to manage. On one side it’s club values and I think all can agree that it’s not an issue but then you have religion, which you have to respect. It’s our values to respect other opinions.
‘And then the third thing is the group thing. I won’t leave Nous alone, we’re a team.
‘The majority of the players believe in one thing but they saw one guy alone and said, ‘Let’s be together’. It’s three things we have to manage and respect.
‘It’s a hard issue to address. I think we did it in a good way. This club represents… we need to respect everything but we also respect the religion of Nous and his culture.’
When asked if United will make sure the campaign is understood by the squad next year, Amorim replied: ‘I don’t know, Nous is going to change his religion and his beliefs? I don’t know.
‘We’ll address it at the time, when the time comes. We will see. It’s a really hard decision but there is no doubt what this club believes and fights for.’
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