Football Association Declines Action Against Palace, Guehi Over Armband Messages

Crystal Palace club captain Marc Guehi has incorporated messages onto his rainbow captain’s armband during his two most recent matches. The Football Association has confirmed it will not initiate formal proceedings against either Crystal Palace or Guehi, following the defender’s repeated display of a religious message on his playing kit. The England centre-back had previously received a reminder regarding the FA’s guidelines concerning religious messaging after inscribing “I love Jesus” on his rainbow captain’s armband for the Saturday fixture against Newcastle United at Selhurst Park. Disregarding this reminder, Guehi subsequently exhibited a ‘Jesus loves you’ message on his armband during Tuesday night’s victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road. These rainbow armbands are utilized as part of the Premier League’s LGBTQ+ inclusion initiative, in collaboration with the charity Stonewall. While team captains are encouraged to wear them, it is not a mandatory requirement. The Football Association’s regulations explicitly forbid the “appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment of any religious message”. BBC Sport has received information indicating that the FA will refrain from taking any formal disciplinary action against Guehi or Palace. However, the association has reiterated its reminder to the club concerning regulations pertaining to messages on kits. Separately, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy opted not to wear a rainbow armband during Saturday’s Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest, nor in Tuesday night’s defeat to Guehi’s Palace at Portman Road. Ipswich Town confirmed that Morsy’s choice stemmed from his “religious beliefs”.