Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is facing a possible charge from the Football Association after appearing to ignore a formal warning over messaging on his rainbow captain’s armband.
The FA, which governs soccer in England, reminded Premier League club Palace of its laws around equipment after Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” on the armband during a home game against Newcastle on Saturday.
However, for Tuesday night’s game at Ipswich, Guehi again had a message written in black marker pen on his rainbow armband — but this time it was “Jesus loves you.”
The FA’s kit and advertising regulations stipulate that “the appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of Clothing … Any political or religious message” is forbidden.
The rule adds that “disciplinary action may be taken… [for] any breach of these Regulations.”
Since 2016, the Premier League has provided rainbow armbands to all its clubs as part of the annual activation of the charity Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign for LGBTQ inclusion in sport.
The league has been at pains to stress that the armbands are not compulsory for captains to wear and that individual players are free to make their own choice.
The armbands were introduced to English football soon after USMNT captain Michael Bradley had worn one for the first time in a show of solidarity for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
There had been universal engagement from all Premier League captains each season until a year ago when Sheffield United’s Anel Ahmedhodzic declined to accept the offer to wear one.
So far this season, one club captain is choosing not to wear the rainbow armband. Ipswich’s Sam Morsy is using the standard issue captain’s armband, with his club citing his “religious beliefs” as the reason.
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Morsy is, like Ahmedhodzic, a practising Muslim and an Egypt international. Since Saturday, many Egyptian and Arabic media outlets have been celebrating the player’s refusal to participate in the inclusion initiative.
By a coincidence of the fixture list, Guehi and Morsy and their respective teams were facing each other on Tuesday.
Rather than instigate any investigation or charge, The FA instead chose to formally contact Palace about Guehi’s message after Saturday’s game.
However, the decision of the player — who has spoken previously about his devout Christian faith — to again write on the armband in midweek may prove a step too far for the authorities.
Palace are yet to comment.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the campaign group Football v Homophobia said: “Captains who choose to wear rainbow armbands send a strong message of allyship towards LGBTQ+ communities everywhere, not least those associated with their club or team.
“Football v Homophobia exists to challenge all forms of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in the game through education.
“We encourage those in leadership positions in football to engage directly with players in preparation for campaigns; to have conversations about the effect their interactions may have, particularly on young people; and to communicate clearly and unequivocally to a wide audience that there is no place for prejudice of any kind in the game.”
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