December 5 – England international and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will face no formal action from the English Football Association despite defying its rules for a second time by writing a religious message on his kit during a Premier League game celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Guehi and Palace were contacted by the FA and reminded of English football’s regulations after he wore a rainbow armband with ‘I love Jesus’ written on it for a Premier League match against Newcastle on Saturday. Guehi used a heart sign instead of the word ‘love’.
That was in contravention of an FA regulation which states that the appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment of any religious message is prohibited.
In a follow-up separate match against Ipswich on Tuesday, Guehi again wore the rainbow armband and this time had the message ‘Jesus loves you’ – and again using a heart sign instead of the word ‘loves’ – on it.
“The message was pretty clear, to be honest. It was a message of love, of truth as well, and a message of inclusivity. So I think it speaks for itself,” Guehi insisted.
The FA will still not take any action but has again reminded Palace of the kit regulations in place.
Rainbow-colored captain armbands were issued to the 20 Premier League clubs for matches last weekend and in the current midweek round, during the competition’s Rainbow Laces campaign in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. The campaign has been running since 2013.
Ipswich’s Sam Morsy has been the only Premier League captain in action who didn’t wear the rainbow armband, in games against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Palace on Tuesday. Ipswich said Morsy, a practicing Muslim, made the decision “due to his religious beliefs”.
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