Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace will be formally reprimanded by the FA after the player wrote “I love Jesus” on his rainbow captain’s armband because of a ban on “religious and political images”. The Mail has more.
The player and club had faced a charge, with FIFA and FA rules banning “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” on players’ equipment, which includes armbands.
However, bosses at the FA have instead decided to remind Guehi and Palace of those regulations, rather than take further action.
Mail Sport also understands that Ipswich captain Sam Morsy will not be punished after refusing to wear the armband, part of a campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community, because of his religious beliefs.
As his refusal was not a rule breach – unlike Guehi’s message – the matter is deemed to be one for the club, rather than governing bodies.
Morsy, 33, is a British-born midfielder who plays for Egypt and is a practising Muslim. He was the only one of 20 captains in the Premier League not to wear the armband.
A spokesperson for national LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall did not condemn the actions of either player.
He said: “It has been incredible to see so many football teams at all levels support our Rainbow Laces campaign to make sport safer and more inclusive for all. When we see clubs show their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion, it helps people feel safe and welcome both on and off the pitch.
“It is up to individuals to choose if and how they show their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.”
Guehi is a devout Christian and previously spoke about how his faith plays a major role in his career.
Speaking to the Athletic, he said: “I’ve grown up loving God and when I have had the chance I still go to church with my family, and my faith is definitely a big part of my life.
“Faith is everything that I’m involved with, really; even in football, where I’m trying to be a role model and show God’s graciousness and God’s glory through my life.”
Guehi comes from a religious household, with his father, John, being a church minister. In fact, his role with the church caused a scheduling drama during the Euros, after he took a service at a church in Lewisham on the day of England’s clash against Serbia.
Guehi admitted that “God comes first” and that he expected his father to be at the service rather than his match.
Guehi admitted: “Usually God comes first. I’d expect him to be at church but he could turn up, I don’t know. I’ll have to message him later to ask.”
First launched in 2013, the Rainbow Laces campaign sees clubs use rainbow corner flags, while captains wear rainbow armbands as well as laces. The occasion was almost universally observed, save for the Ipswich skipper.
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: Guehi risks a ban after doubling down by writing the words “Jesus loves You” on his armband for Tuesday’s match against Ipswich Town. His church minister father has accused the FA of double standards, telling the Mail:
The FA is happy for the crowd to sing God Save The King when England plays, which mentions God and religion. And it is happy to have the religious hymn Abide With Me during the cup final. And yet it has a go at my son for expressing his beliefs. Where is the sense in that? What exactly has he done wrong?
This country is a Christian country, and we are reminded of that when we go into public buildings that have the royal coat of arms which has the words Dieu et mon droit [God and my right]. I back my son for what he did. He’s my son and, of course, I stand with him. I don’t see anything wrong in the message that was on his armband, do you? I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet about it.
I am a church minister and a devout Christian, and so is Marc. He didn’t refuse to wear the rainbow armband, so where is the problem? Morsy refused to wear the armband, but my son didn’t, he wore it.
He added that his son had been trying to convey a message of: “You gave me the armband. As a Christian, I don’t believe in your cause, but I will put it on.”
Stop Press 2: In the Times, Martin Samuel points out that the Rainbow Laces campaign likes to think it’s all about ‘inclusion’. Why, then, are its supporters so intend on singling out and ostracising those who disagree with it?
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