Paddy Power has revealed that they will be donating £10,000 to organisations and causes dedicating to making football more inclusive to the LGBT+ community for every Russia goal scored during the 2018 World Cup.
Foundation
Twinning up with Attitude’s Foundation magazine, Paddy Power explained that the funding would go to challenging prejudice against the LGBT+ community both on and off the field.A spokesperson from Paddy Power pulled no punches in a statement, saying:“Given they invented Russian Dolls, you’d be forgiven for thinking Russia wouldn’t have an issue with women being into other women.“Likewise, their appreciation for bears is one shared around the world by the LGBT+ population, so it really is astonishing that they have not used their stewardship of this tournament to champion LGBT+ inclusivity.“As a result, we’ve stepped in to help. When Russia Put-in a goal, we’ll Put-in £10,000 to Attitude magazine’s Foundation, who will use the funds to make football more LGBT+ inclusive. I cannot wait to see the LGBT+ community get behind the Russians – or the Russians’ baffled reaction.”
Minimum
Paddy Power has also stated that to make up for the Russian side’s lack of quality, they will be donating a minimum of £50,000 to the chosen causes, regardless of how many goals Russia scores.Darren Styles OBE, publisher of Attitude, explained why Paddy Power’s campaign is so important, saying:“When Paddy Power approached us with this idea we leapt at the chance. The LGBT+ community has a long history of reclaiming and adopting behaviours, words and styles that were intended to discriminate against us, so for this tournament we’re adopting Russia.“The World Cup is meant to be about inclusivity, but thanks to the hosts – and those who chose the hosts – this tournament (and the next, in Qatar) is taking place in a nation with laws that discriminate against the LGBT+ population.”