SPEAKING OUT
Marc Guehi breaks silence after escaping FA action for message on rainbow armband for two games
It comes after Crystal Palace boss backed his captain
MARC GUEHI has broken his silence after writing a religious message on his Premier League captain's armband.
Guehi - a devout Christian - was warned by the FA not to repeat his actions after writing "I love Jesus" on his armband for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
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On Tuesday night, the Eagles skipper ignored the warning as he wrote "Jesus loves you" on his armband as Palace beat Ipswich 1-0.
Now, Guehi has spoken out for the first time telling : “I think the message was pretty clear to be honest.
"It’s a message of love and truth as well and a message of inclusivity, so it speaks for itself."
The FA do not plan any formal disciplinary action towards Guehi - despite the breach of Rule A4.
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Instead, they have reminded Palace of the kit regulations that are in place.
The Laws of the Game allow slogans "promoting the game of football, respect and integrity".
But the Laws forbid "political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images".
Breaching this requirement is a strict liability situation with the Laws adding: "For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA."
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FA have disappeared down a rabbit hole again with absurd double standards
By Dave Kidd
Cast your mind back two years to the World Cup in Qatar.
There, the FA and Harry Kane insisted that the England skipper would wear a rainbow armband in support of the LGBTQ+ community, after FIFA had awarded hosting rights to a nation which criminalises homosexuality.
Six other western European nations were going to take the same stand.
Until the point when FIFA insisted that those captains making this "political" gesture would be booked.
Until the point where that gesture might have some sporting consequence - and therefore a more substantial meaning.
At that point, the FA and their six allies all performed a late U-turn. They bottled it.
That’s the thing with English football and its "support" for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Guehi issue, and Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy’s refusal to wear the rainbow armband on "religious" grounds, will put a spotlight on the campaign that has been part of the Premier League’s season since 2013.
Guehi, whose dad is a minister, was one of 19 top flight captains who wore the armband in the weekend fixtures to support the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Ipswich's Morsy was the only skipper to snub wearing the armband.
Speaking after Tuesday's game, which Palace won 1-0 to ease relegation concerns, manager Oliver Glasner backed his captain.
Glasner said: "We respect every single player and especially Marc as our captain.
"He's a great guy, very humble and we shouldn't make it bigger than it is. Keep it calm. He's very respectful to everyone in the club.
"In football we're all against discrimination, against abuse, every single part. It was a great campaign and I think that's it.
"We spoke about it. I speak to Marc quite often, he's my captain. He's no child who is 15, he's an adult person like every one of us.
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"He has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion. This is the quote of this campaign, being tolerant and Marc is very tolerant so everything is fine."
Meanwhile, Man Utd's players abandoned plans to wear a jacket in support of the LGBTQ+ community after Noussair Mazraoui refused to join the initiative ahead of their 4-0 win over Everton.
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