The Football Association's leniency in dealing with the Crystal Palace skipper's rule breach is understandable but it might well come back to haunt them
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, wearing his rainbow coloured captains armband which reads "Jesus hearts you" interacts with Sam Morsy of Ipswich Town, who wears his plain captains armband prior to the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Crystal Palace FC at Portman Road on December 03, 2024 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Marc Guehi , of Crystal Palace, wore a rainbow armband on which he had written 'Jesus 'hearts' you' while Ipswich Town's Sam Morsy wore a plain captain's armband when the sides met at Portman Road
Andy Dunn
The Football Association’s decision not to charge Marc Guehi after he wrote a religious message on his captain’s armband for the second game in succession is a victory for common sense. But it sets a precedent that will cause the FA problems.
Judging by the way the FA has responded to Guehi’s promotion of christianity, religious messages ARE allowed to appear on part of your kit for at least a couple of games. And that, of course, is any religion.
Rule A4 of the FA’s kit and advertising regulations forbids any religious messages or slogans on clothing worn on the field. But it now seems the punishment for breaking rule A4 is a gentle reminder of that particular rule to the club, which is no punishment at all.
Perhaps the FA will have a three-strike rule in Guehi’s case and charge him if he writes another message on his armband. But that is not likely to happen - at least not until Guehi is asked to wear a rainbow armband again.
Because Guehi was obviously trying to make some point or other, having never written on a conventional captain’s armband. As unpopular as it would have been, there should have been some formal sanction against Guehi and/or Crystal Palace. The rules are the rules, etc, etc.
Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi sparked controversy when he wore this armband for last weekend's match against Newcastle United and, despite an FA warning, he wrote another message on the armband he wore at Ipswich three days later (
Image:
Getty Images)
But this debate - which also encompasses Sam Morsy’s decision not to wear the rainbow armband - should have been irrelevant because an armband on a professional football captain should have a C on it … and that’s it. How can the football authorities tell players not to carry slogans of a religious or personal nature when those same football authorities are asking players to wear equipment that carries slogans?
Ahead of the women’s World Cup in 2023, FIFA provided teams with the choice of EIGHT armbands. Unite for Inclusion, Unite for Indigenous Peoples, Unite for Gender Equality, Unite for Peace, Unite for Education for All, Unite for Zero, Unite for Ending Violence Against Women, and, finally, Football is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope and Passion.
That is when we are not arguing about armbands, that is. All of those sentiments are noble, and to be applauded. And make no mistake, any campaign that highlights the scourge of homophobia in football is of immense value.
Premier League skippers are not compelled to wear rainbow armbands and Ipswich Town's Sam Morsy chose not to because of his religious beliefs (
Image:
Shaun Botterill)
It is an issue that does need to be addressed but the best way to address it is for high-profile players who feel passionately about the problem to come out and speak about it. The best way to address it is for the football authorities to come down hard on clubs whose fans sing homophobic chants at matches.
It was not until the middle of last year - when Wolves were fined £100,000 - that a club was punished for its fans repeatedly chanting a homophobic slur towards Chelsea fans that has, sadly, been doing the rounds for many years. If players want to wear clothing that indicates their desire for greater inclusion, then fine. If they don’t, also fine.
There is a fine line between making the public aware of a campaign and tokenism. And what the campaign for greater inclusivity in the game needs right now is more action and fewer armbands.
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