Marc Guehi’s father has slammed the Football Association (FA) after his son was reprimanded for writing “I love Jesus” on his rainbow captain’s armband.
The hand-written message was spotted on Guehi’s armband during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
All 20 Premier League captains had been issued with rainbow-coloured armbands for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which supports the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Guehi, who is a devout Christian, was understood to have avoided an FA charge but was likely to be contacted to remind him that religious messaging is banned from equipment used or won in League matches.
Rule A4 in full states: "The appearance on, or incorporation in, any item of clothing, football boots or other equipment of any distasteful, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting, discriminatory or otherwise ethically or morally offensive message, or any political or religious message, is prohibited. The advertising of tobacco products is prohibited."
Guehi was back in action for Palace on Tuesday night and has repeated the act despite contact from the FA. Against Ipswich, Guehi’s armband read: “Jesus [heart emoji] You.”
Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, a practising Muslim, chose not to wear the armband due to his religious beliefs.
Guehi’s church minister father John has accused the FA of double standards after Morsy was not punished.
He told the Daily Mail: “I am saying did he offend anyone? I don't think so. I do believe in what the Bible says, Jesus loves everyone, and, in my opinion, Marc did not offend anyone with what he wrote.
“Jesus loved everyone therefore by saying 'I love Jesus' on his armband I really don't see what is offensive and what the problem is.
“If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in, it's belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.
“But if that opinion's aim is to offend you then there is a problem but if my opinion is just to express what I feel then I think that is fine and I don't think what Marc wrote on that armband is offensive.
“He is talking about him, he loves Jesus and like I said he didn't refuse to wear that armband, like Morsy, people should pay more attention to the person who refused to wear it.
“Marc said 'Yes' and did the right thing by wearing it but people are having a go at him for what he wrote, he accepted to wear the armband, he was just trying to balance the message.
“He was saying' You gave me the armband, as a Christian I don't believe in your cause, but I will put it on' but Morsy didn't put it on because he said it was against his religion but more seems to be being said about Marc than him.
“We are so thick skinned in this country, God is everywhere in this country, and I know things change because of different beliefs but it is still a Christian country. Therefore, I don't see what is offensive.
Marc Guéhi on instagram. #CPFC pic.twitter.com/dNi1ikYLRU
— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) December 3, 2024
“He is a devout Christian; the son of a church minister and he accepted to put the arm band on to welcome everyone in football but the problem we have now is that players are being used as spokespeople now.”
Guehi’s father added: “The FA are happy for the crowd to sing God Save The King when England plays which mentions God and religion.
“And they are happy to have the religious hymn Abide With Me during the cup final and yet they have a go at my son for expressing his beliefs. Where is the sense in that? What exactly has he done wrong?
“This country is a Christian country, and we are reminded of that when we go into public building that have the royal court of arms which has the words Dieu et mon droit (God and my right).
“I back my son for what he did, he's my son and of course I stand with him. I don't see anything wrong in the message that was on his armband, do you? I haven't had a chance to speak with him yet about it.
“I am a church minister and a devout Christian and so is Marc, he didn't refuse to wear the rainbow arm band so where is the problem? Morsy refused to wear the armband, but my son didn't, he wore it.
“I don't know fully what's going on because I haven't spoken to Marc and so we don't know but I don't think it's fair he should be singled out just for showing his religious beliefs.”
