The English Football Association (FA) will again speak with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to remind him about uniform regulations. But Guehi will not face a suspension after writing “I love Jesus” and “Jesus loves you” on his rainbow armbands.
Guehi, the team captain, repeatedly defied rules when he wrote the religious phrases on his rainbow armbands during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Guehi wore a rainbow-colored captain’s armband against Newcastle on Saturday, Nov. 30, with the message “I love Jesus.” He again wrote a religious message on his armband in a match between Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town on Tuesday, Dec. 3. He scrawled the message “Jesus loves you” on his rainbow armband in that game.
The rule governing team uniforms states: “The appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment of any distasteful, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting, discriminatory or otherwise ethically or morally offensive message, or any political or religious message, is prohibited. The advertising of tobacco products is prohibited.”
After the Ipswich match, football fans swarmed Guehi’s Instagram page with mixed reactions. Guehi took to his Instagram and wrote: “Jesus [loves] you. Stay blessed.”
Guehi’s father John, a church minister, insisted his son “didn’t offend anyone” and that it “isn’t fair he should be singled out just for showing his religious beliefs.”
John said Marc’s blessings include people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Manchester United players abandoned the club’s plans to wear an Adidas jacket in support of the LGBTQ+ community ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton after Noussair Mazraoui refused to join the initiative.#MUFC | #PL
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— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 4, 2024