London (AFP) – Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is set to escape disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA) despite his decision to inscribe a Christian message on his rainbow armband, ignoring a advance warning regarding the display of such religious sentiments.
During last Saturday’s stalemate against Newcastle (1-1), the 24-year-old sported an armband with the handwritten inscription “I love Jesus.” Following that match, Guehi and the club received reminders about the FA’s kit regulations, which prohibit religious messages.
To further express his beliefs, Guehi wore another armband reading “Jesus loves you” during Palace’s subsequent 1-0 victory over Ipswich. According to British media reports on Wednesday, the FA did not intend to take action against him.
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Both the club and the England international, who has spoken openly about his faith in the past, have received another reminder about the regulations governing instructions on equipment.
League captains have proudly worn rainbow armbands over the past two days of the Premier League in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign, an initiative to promote LGBTQ inclusion in sport.
The initiative, jointly supported by the Premier League and charity Stonewall, will culminate with Premier League matches on Thursday.
After the victory at Portman Road, Palace manager Oliver Glasner attempted to play down any controversy surrounding the issue. “The focus must be on inclusion and the elimination of discrimination, and Marc embodies that spirit,” he said. “He is entitled to his opinions, and we must respect all opinions.”
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In a related note, the FA has chosen not to intervene in the case of Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who has decided to display a standard captain’s armband in line with his faith.
Although Guehi will not be punished, his father, John, a church minister, expressed disappointment at the FA’s warning. “Did he offend anyone? I don’t think so. The Bible clearly says that ‘Jesus loves everyone,’ and frankly, Mark’s message was not offensive,” he told the DailyMail.
“Marc did the right thing, but he faces criticism. The FA has no problem with crowds singing ‘God Save The King’ at England matches, which refers to God and to faith. They also host the religious anthem ‘Abide With Me’ at the FA Cup final. So why penalize my son for expressing his faith? -does it hurt?”
A Stonewall representative commented: “It has been remarkable to see how many football clubs at different levels have committed to our campaign to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all in sport. When clubs support LGBTQ+ inclusion cultivates a sense of safety and belonging for individuals on and off the field. Every person should have the freedom to choose how they express their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
