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By DOMINIC HOGAN and JAMES COHEN
Published: 08:29 EST, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 08:48 EST, 4 December 2024
Matt Lucas has hit out at players choosing not to wear rainbow-coloured armbands after several Premier League stars refused to show solidarity in the recent round of Premier League games.
It comes after devout Christian Marc Guehi chose to write 'I love Jesus' over his rainbow armband at the weekend, before wearing a second on Tuesday at Ipswich Town that read: 'Jesus loves you'. He has since been reprimanded.
The Portman Road clash was also notable for the decision of Ipswich Town skipper Sam Morsy to refuse to wear the rainbow armband altogether, having first done so last weekend.
Captains have been wearing rainbow armbands in the last two rounds of Premier League matches as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign, which offers support to the LGBTQ+ community in football and beyond.
The Athletic then reported that Man United star Noussair Mazraoui, who is a devout Muslim, told his colleagues that he would not be wearing a rainbow jacket to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and cited his religious faith as his reasoning.
United decided that no player would wear the tracksuit, so Mazraoui would not be singled out publicly - with the decision reportedly just taken hours before kick-off on Sunday.
Matt Lucas has slammed players deciding not to wear rainbow armbands to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi wrote 'Jesus loves You' over his armband against Ipswich Town
Man United scrapped plans to wear an rainbow jacket after Noussair Mazraoui refused
In the wake of the controversy, famous Arsenal fan Matt Lucas has slammed those deciding not to show their support with rainbow armbands,
'I have been verbally abused twice on the way to football matches so far this season. On both occasions I was minding my own business, head down, walking to the ground.
'I was called "a f***ing queer ****" by one man and another told me that "our club doesn't want disgusting gay fans".
'If you're a player and that offends you less than wearing a rainbow-coloured armband for a couple of matches, then maybe you're part of the problem.'
It was a weekend that saw numerous points of controversy, with Morsy refusing to wear the armband, Guehi writing over his, and Mazraoui choosing not to wear a jacket, which spilled over into the midweek fixtures.
Despite the FA reprimanding Guehi for his decision to write on the armband, they opted not to take action against Morsy for not wearing it - which Guehi's father spoke out against.
Guehi's father - who is a church minister - has since accused the FA of double standards after Muslim player Morsy, who refused to wear the armband, was not punished - and claimed they are pandering to the demands of the LGBT community over Christians.
He told MailOnline: 'I am saying did he offend anyone? I don't think so. I do believe in what the Bible says, Jesus loves everyone, and, in my opinion, Marc did not offend anyone with what he wrote.
Guehi will face no formal action from the FA despite wearing an adapted rainbow armband for the second time
Guehi sparked controversy after scrawling a message on his armband for the second game in a row
'Jesus loved everyone therefore by saying 'I love Jesus' on his armband I really don't see what is offensive and what the problem is.
'If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in, it's belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.'
The club and the player were again reminded of kit regulations, which state that the appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment, of any religious message is prohibited under Rule A4.
In light of Morsy's refusal to wear the rainbow armband on the weekend, Ipswich released a statement insisting the club 'proudly supports' the Premier League's campaign.
They said: 'Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone.
'We proudly support thePremier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance,' the spokesperson said.
In a statement today, Manchester United said the club 'welcomes fans from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community', adding: 'We are strongly committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion.
'We demonstrate these principles through a range of activities, including support for our Rainbow Devils supporters' club, and campaigns to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fans and combat all forms of discrimination.
'Players are entitled to hold their own individual opinions, particularly in relation to their faith, and these may sometimes differ from the club's position.'
United's LGBT fan group Rainbow Devils this morning issued a response, saying they were 'disappointed' in the summer signing.
In a post on X, the organisation wrote: 'As part of this year's Rainbow Laces campaign, Rainbow Devils worked closely with - and had great support from - Manchester United and the Fan Engagement team.
'This has included working with the Manchester United Foundation to spread the message of inclusivity with local schools, to a Q&A with two Men's first team players, to supportive messages from many Men and Women first team players (including an individual one from captain Bruno Fernandes).
'On this latter occasion, which was United's official Rainbow Laces game, the players were due to wear specially designed jackets pre-match to mark the occasion. Shortly before the game, Rainbow Devils was informed that these jackets would not be worn.
'The reason being that one of the matchday squad had refused to wear the jacket on the grounds of their personally held beliefs. Therefore, to maintain the team ethos and togetherness, none of the players would be wearing them.
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