Wembley arch WON'T light up for LGBT Pride or 'political events' after backlash at failure to show solidarity with Israel
The arch has been lit up for a wide range of reasons
PA
The arch at Wembley Stadium will no longer light up for political issues or inclusion campaigns.
It comes after an FA review into the policy of lighting up the iconic arch.
There was backlash last month when the structure was not illuminated in response to the Israel-Gaza war.
The arch has been lit up in rainbow colours in the past to support the LGBT+ community during the World Cup in Qatar and in blue and yellow to show support for Ukraine amid the invasion by Russia.
The decision not to light up the archway was met with criticism from faith leaders.
Rabbi Alex Goldberg resigned his post as chair of the FA's Faith in Football group, after expressing his “profound disappointment”.
FA chief Mark Bullingham acknowledged that the decision “caused hurt in the Jewish community,.
He added that the backlash had made the governing body “question whether we should light the arch and when”.
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The arch has been lit up to show support for the LGBT+ community
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A policy has now been approved that will only see the arch lit in relation to football and entertainment at the venue.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer, had also spoken publicly about the FA’s decision not to light the arch in solidarity with Israel.
She called it “extremely disappointing”.
A moment of silence ahead of England’s international friendly against Australia on October 13 to respect “the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine”.
Speaking at a conference in London Bullingham, previously said: “This was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make — and the last thing we ever wanted to do in this situation was to add to the hurt.
“We aren’t asking for everyone to agree with our decision, but to understand how we reached it.”
It comes as the Premier League issued guidance to its clubs last month advising them to prohibit Israel and Palestine flags inside stadiums.
The FA has said it will still back causes such as Rainbow Laces even if the arch will not be part of the activism.
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