'Jesus on rainbow armband' row: Marc Guehi will face no formal action

English Football Association said Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will receive no punishment for writing a religious message on his uniform

marc-guehi General view of a message written on the armband of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi | Reuters

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will face no formal action from the English Football Association despite defying its rules for a second time by writing a religious message on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Guehi and Crystal Palace were contacted by the FA and reminded of English football's kit regulations after he wore a rainbow armband with "I love Jesus" written for a Premier League match against Newcastle United on Saturday. Guehi used a heart sign instead of the word love.

That was in contravention of an FA regulation Rule A4 which states that the appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment of any religious message is prohibited.

For the match against Ipswich Town on Tuesday, Guehi again wore the rainbow armband and this time had the message Jesus loves you again using a heart sign instead of the word loves on it. The FA will still not take any action but has again reminded Palace of the kit regulations in place.

Rainbow-colored captain armbands were issued to the 20 Premier League clubs for matches last weekend and in the current midweek round, during the competition's Rainbow Laces campaign in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. The campaign has been running since 2013.

Ipswich's Sam Morsy has been the only captain in action who didn't wear the rainbow armband, in games against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Palace on Tuesday. Ipswich said Morsy, a practising Muslim, made the decision due to his religious beliefs.

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