‘We’re never shy in saying what we stand for’, says Leah Williamson as Lionesses continue push for equality
LEAH WILLIAMSON insists the Lionesses will “never shy away from showing their commitment to equality.
The England skipper was speaking after praising Czech Republic player Jakub Jankto, 27, who bravely came out this week.
The England skipper, 25, who hailed the midfielder’s bravery, says the Euros winners will wear OneLove armbands at the Arnold Clark Cup.
Designed as a symbol of equality and opposition to discrimination, they have been been worn in the past by Sarina Wiegman’s side.
And Williamson and her team-mates will pull them on again when they take on the Korea Republic, Italy and Belgium in the Arnold Clark Cup.
The first of their matches in the four-team tournament takes place on Thursday evening when England face the Korea Republic at the MK Stadium.
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It comes three days after Jankto, currently on loan at Getafe from Sparta Prague, revealed he is gay in a powerful video message shared via Twitter.
Speaking to reporters, the Lionesses captain said: “You’ve just seen another men’s player step out and be as brave as they can be and potentially change their whole life.
"So for us to stand also in solidarity with him is important to us.
"It’s something we’ve always done, it’s something we’ll continue to do.
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“We’re not just impacting football, we’re trying to have a positive impact on society.
"That’s one of the ways we can do that. We’re never shy in saying what we stand for.
“We’re a squad that promotes inclusivity and equality.
"We obviously have a number of people that feel very strongly about it. I think it’s not even a question for us really.”
Williamson’s comments come two months after the Three Lions were among a host of teams threatened with Fifa sanctions in response to their plans to wear OneLove armbands at the World Cup in Qatar.
This summer’s Women’s World Cup has come under the spotlight in recent days following Fifa's decision to award contest sponsorship to Saudi Arabia’s state tourist authority.
The news was greeted with concern by a number of influential figures within the game including USA forward Alex Morgan.
This is due to Saudi Arabia's record around the rights of women and individuals within the LGBTQ community.
When asked if the Lionesses will continue wearing armbands in support of equality during the World Cup, Williamson added: “You hope it’s not a last-minute call once we get there.
"But it’s something we want to do all year round, that we’ve done previously.
“And I think the statement that was made at the Euros last summer with every team participating, that’s incredible.
“Every picture we have with a trophy lift there’s a rainbow armband in there.
"I think it’s a great stage and a great time to promote those values that we believe in so much, so I hope it’s the same.
"As players, especially in the women’s game, I’ve seen what the American players have said, we’re not shy to stand up for what we believe in
"We make clear statements constantly about the society we want to live in and having a positive impact on the world.
"We’ll always make our opinions heard.
"That is the nature of the game but ultimately those things are hopefully resolved in a positive way by Fifa and Australia and New Zealand.
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"There’s a time and a place for a player to speak out, but it’s not in our hands.
"Hopefully the best decision is made in the best interests of the game."