Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has found himself in hot water with the English Football Association for a second time after defying kit regulations by displaying religious messages on his uniform during a Premier League campaign promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion.
In a recent match against Newcastle, Guehi wore a rainbow armband with “I love Jesus” written on it, in violation of FA Rule A4 which prohibits the display of religious messages on clothing or equipment. Despite being reminded of the regulations, Guehi continued to flaunt a similar message, this time reading “Jesus loves you,” in the following match against Ipswich.
While the FA has chosen not to take formal action against Guehi, they have once again reached out to Palace to emphasize the importance of adhering to kit regulations. The Rainbow Laces campaign, which aims to support LGBTQ+ inclusivity in football, provided rainbow-colored armbands to all Premier League clubs for matches over the weekend and midweek.
Meanwhile, Manchester United faced a similar situation when defender Noussair Mazraoui declined to participate in the campaign, citing his Muslim faith as the reason. United respected Mazraoui’s decision and chose not to wear the Rainbow Laces jackets as a team. Despite this, United reiterated their commitment to diversity and inclusion, emphasizing that players are entitled to their own individual opinions, even if they differ from the club’s stance.
In a show of support for the LGBTQ+ community, United captain Bruno Fernandes wore the rainbow armband during the match. The incidents involving both Guehi and Mazraoui highlight the intersection of religion and LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the world of football.