Marc Guehi has escaped punishment for writing “Jesus loves you” on his captain’s rainbow armband despite being told such slogans were banned after displaying a similar message.
England defender Guehi had been reminded of Football Association rules after writing “I love Jesus” on the rainbow armband he wore during Crystal Palace’s Premier League draw against Newcastle on Saturday.
He defiantly ignored those rules again at Ipswich Town on Tuesday night with a tweaked message during Palace’s 1-0 win there.
But the FA has decided against taking formal action after reminding the club of the kit regulations that are in place.
Those regulations have sparked a major row and caused Guehi’s father, a church minister, to accuse the FA of double standards.
Speaking before Tuesday’s game, John Guehi leapt to the defence of his “devout Christian” son, criticising the FA when it had not taken similar action over the refusal of Ipswich captain Sam Morsy to wear a rainbow armband – which is meant to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community – because of his own religious beliefs.
He also cited the use by the FA of the national anthem, God Save the King, during matches and the hymn Abide With Me before the FA Cup final, and accused the LGBT community of “trying to impose on others what they believe in”.
He told Mail Online: “The FA are happy for the crowd to sing God Save the King when England plays, which mentions God and religion. And they are happy to have the religious hymn Abide With Me during the Cup final. And, yet, they have a go at my son for expressing his beliefs. Where is the sense in that? What exactly has he done wrong?
“This country is a Christian country, and we are reminded of that when we go into public buildings that have the royal court of arms which has the words Dieu et mon droit (God and my right).
“I back my son for what he did, he’s my son and, of course, I stand with him. I don’t see anything wrong in the message that was on his armband, do you? I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet about it.
“I am a church minister and a devout Christian and so is Marc. He didn’t refuse to wear the rainbow armband, so where is the problem? Morsy refused to wear the armband, but my son didn’t, he wore it.”
He added: “Jesus loved everyone. Therefore, by saying, ‘I love Jesus’, on his armband, I really don’t see what is offensive and what the problem is. If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in. It’s belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.”
He said his son had been trying to convey a message of: “You gave me the armband. As a Christian, I don’t believe in your cause, but I will put it on.”
The Premier League and its clubs are celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in midweek fixtures this week, having also done so in last weekend’s matches. As part of this celebration, which aligns with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, captains are wearing rainbow armbands.
In Palace’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, Guehi’s armband had “I love Jesus” written above the usual “captain” branding.
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