December 03, (THEWILL) – The England Football Association will contact Crystal Palace defender, Marc Guehi, to remind him about regulations prohibiting religious messaging on match equipment.
Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” on his Premier League-issued rainbow armband during a recent match, which breaches football’s established equipment guidelines.
The rainbow armbands were distributed by the English Premier League as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign in partnership with Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ rights charity.
While the league has not mandated wearing the armbands, they are intended to support inclusivity during designated matches.
Last weekend, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy was the only player who chose not to wear the armband, citing his religious beliefs.
Football regulations strictly forbid religious messaging on jerseys and equipment.
The FA’s planned communication with Guehi and Crystal Palace is understood to be a formal reminder, which would likely prevent any potential disciplinary action against the player or the club.
It is an example of the ongoing discussions about personal expression and sporting regulations, particularly in contexts involving religious statements and campaign messaging.
The EPL continues to balance players’ individual choices with established equipment guidelines.
Palace is scheduled to play Ipswich Town in an upcoming midweek match, where the Rainbow Laces campaign armbands are again expected to be worn by team captains. The FA’s response is a measured approach to managing potential rule infractions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
