England international and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will reportedly not face a formal charge from the Football Association (FA) despite writing “I love Jesus” on his rainbow-coloured armband during the match against Newcastle last Saturday.
The armband is distributed to Premier League captains as part of the league’s Rainbow Laces campaign supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion.
While FA Rule A4 strictly prohibits players from wearing clothing that promotes any “political or religious message,” Guehi has avoided a charge, though the governing body is expected to issue a reminder about the regulations regarding religious messaging.
Guehi, whose father is a church minister, wore a similar religious slogan, “Jesus loves you” (with a heart symbol), on his armband during a subsequent match against Ipswich Town.
Elsewhere, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy chose not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest due to his “religious beliefs.” Ipswich Town issued a statement respecting Morsy’s decision while reiterating their commitment to being a “fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone.”
Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ charity behind the campaign, stated that while widespread support is appreciated, the choice of how to participate is ultimately up to the individual.
