‘He didn’t offend anyone’ , Marc Guehi’s father criticizes the FA for reprimanding his son over 'I love Jesus' message on LGBT rainbow armband
The father of England star Marc Guehi has criticized the FA after his son was reprimanded for writing "I love Jesus" on his LGBT captain's armband. Guehi could face formal disciplinary action for breaching rules prohibiting "political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images" on players' armbands during matches. The incident occurred while Guehi was playing for Crystal Palace in a recent 1-1 draw against Newcastle.
However, his father, a church minister, accused the FA of inconsistency, noting that Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy, who declined to wear the pride armband for religious reasons, was not penalized. He suggested the FA was prioritizing the LGBT community's concerns over those of Christians. In an interview with MailOnline, John Guehi said, "Did he offend anyone? I don’t think so. The Bible says Jesus loves everyone, and I believe Marc’s message was not offensive. He didn’t refuse to wear the armband but instead balanced the message by expressing his personal faith."
He added, "Marc accepted the armband and wore it, yet he is being criticized for what he wrote. Meanwhile, someone like Morsy, who refused to wear it altogether, has faced no backlash." John Guehi emphasized that his son’s actions were about expressing his beliefs as a devout Christian and not an attempt to cause offense. "Marc wore the armband to welcome everyone in football, but players are now being used as spokespeople," he said.
He also pointed out the perceived contradiction in the FA’s stance, noting its acceptance of religious references like "God Save The King" and hymns like "Abide With Me" during football events. "Where is the sense in reprimanding my son? This is a Christian country, and Marc was simply expressing his faith," he said. Expressing full support for his son, John Guehi said, "I stand by Marc. I don’t see anything wrong with what he wrote. As a church minister and a devout Christian, I will always support him."