London club Crystal Palace player Marc Guehi will not face any disciplinary proceedings over religious messages written on his rainbow armband, distributed to Premier League captains as part of a campaign against homophobia, various British media announced on Wednesday.
Saturday, against Newcastle (1-1), Guehi wore the armband but had written the message there « I love Jesus » (“I love Jesus”), a gesture widely interpreted as a mark of defiance against this campaign against homophobia. Tuesday, at Ipswich (1-0 victory), he did it again, this time with the registration « Jesus loves you » (“Jesus loves you”).
According to British media, the Premier League reminded him that it was banning religious messages. But she will not initiate disciplinary proceedings against the England international defender who has in the past spoken publicly about his Christian faith.
The rainbow armbands were distributed to Premier League captains during the last two days of the championship, as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign against homophobia in sport.
Marc Guehi’s coach at Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner, defended his player: “everyone is for integration and against discrimination, and this is also the case for Marc”. “He has his opinion and we accept and respect all opinions”he said.
Writing in the British daily Daily Mail, the player’s father, John Guehi, a pastor, took offense to the controversy and defended his son: “did he offend anyone?” I don’t think so. I believe that in the Bible it is written +Jesus loves everyone+”.
The Premier League campaign is co-organized with the Stonewall association, which fights against discrimination against LGBT+ people, which noted that “It was up to each person to choose whether and how they wanted to show their support for LGBT inclusion in sport”.
