ABSTRACT
The final results chapter, this chapter explores the role of governing bodies (with a specific focus on the Football Association [FA]) and professional football clubs and their attempts to tackle LGBT-phobia in the game. In their assessment, the LGBT fans – particularly the transgender fans in this research, one of whom described them as the ‘forgotten fans’ – felt that there were significant failures in the FA’s LGBT inclusion policy. Many fans also provided specific recommendations to the FA to ensure that their anti-LGBT-phobia policy could become more effective. However, more positive perspectives were evident in these fans’ assessment of their respective club’s commitment to LGBT inclusion – and many recognised the increase of a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination. The final part of the chapter provides an analysis of the Rainbow Laces movement and how its emergence just over a decade ago has increased and improved LGBT inclusion in English football. However, there remain significant concerns due to its lack of legacy.
