Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will not face formal sanctions from the English Football Association (FA) despite twice defying kit regulations during the Premier League’s LGBTQ+ inclusive Rainbow Laces campaign.
After donning a rainbow armband inscribed with “I [heart] Jesus” for Saturday’s clash against Newcastle, Guehi was contacted by the FA, along with Palace, as such a display violated Rule A4, which bans religious messages on clothing or equipment. Undeterred, he repeated the act on Tuesday against Ipswich, this time with the message “Jesus [heart] you” on the armband.
Guehi told Sky Sports the message was one of “love, truth, and inclusivity.” The FA, while opting not to punish him, has once again reminded Palace of the existing kit regulations.
The Rainbow Laces campaign, a long-running initiative in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, saw rainbow captain armbands distributed to all 20 Premier League clubs for weekend and midweek fixtures. However, Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, a practicing Muslim, chose not to wear the armband in games against Nottingham Forest and Palace, citing religious beliefs.
Adding to the narrative, The Athletic reported that Manchester United shelved plans for players to wear LGBTQ+-supportive training tops ahead of Sunday’s game against Everton. Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui declined due to his Muslim faith, prompting the club’s U-turn. United captain Bruno Fernandes did wear the rainbow armband during the match, and the club emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion, while respecting players’ individual stances on faith.
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