Ipswich Captain Sam Morsy Declines Rainbow Armband Citing Religious Beliefs

Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy chose not to wear a rainbow armband during the team’s Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the club stating his decision was based on “religious beliefs.” Ipswich Town currently occupies the second-to-last position in the Premier League. Premier League teams are demonstrating their backing for LGBTQ+ inclusion within sports by participating in the Rainbow Laces campaign, organized by the charity Stonewall, which runs from 29 November to 5 December. Nevertheless, Morsy, the 33-year-old Egypt international, opted against wearing the rainbow captain’s armband during the 1-0 loss against Forest. Ipswich is also scheduled to host Crystal Palace on Tuesday, while the campaign is ongoing. Ipswich reaffirmed its dedication to “being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone” but also noted its respect for the midfielder Morsy’s choice. In a statement issued on Monday, Ipswich declared: “We proudly support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance.” The statement continued: “During this year’ campaign, members of the club’s men’s and women’s first-teams visited our Foundation’s weekly LGBTQ+ football session, while the club also made a joint pledge of solidarity and inclusivity alongside Nottingham Forest ahead of Saturday’s game.” The club further detailed: “A range of further initiatives are planned around Tuesday’s home game with Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium’s big screen in the moments prior to kick-off.” The statement concluded by adding: “At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband, due to his religious beliefs.” Laura McAllister, a former captain for Wales, holds a significant position within the LGBTQ+ football community, currently serving as a vice-president and executive committee member for Uefa, European football’s governing body. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she stated: “I think there has to be an element of individual choice, but I’m really disappointed because a captain represents the team, and the club, and everybody who is a fan of that club, and everybody who works at that club, and that will include a lot of LGBT people as well.” McAllister further commented: “One’s own religious beliefs, if they are so strong that they feel they can’t champion inclusivity and diversity, then I think that’s a real shame that any religion would create those conditions.” She concluded her remarks by saying: “Being a captain, I think it comes with a big responsibility, and that’s to make sure that football is a game for everybody. That’s the whole point of the rainbow armband so it’s disappointing, but let’s move on with the positivity around this as well, with so many other captains championing equal rights.”