Marc Guehi's father, a church minister, has criticised the Football Association after his son faced repercussions for inscribing "I love Jesus" on his rainbow captain's armband.
The Crystal Palace defender was warned for a breach of the rules that prohibit any "political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images" on players' armbands.
This incident occurred when Crystal Palace met Newcastle, prompting the FA to engage in discussions with Guehi. Despite his warning, Guehi, back on the pitch Tuesday against Ipswich, etched another message "Jesus loves you" onto his armband.
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Amidst the Premier League’s latest Rainbow Laces initiative, Guehi did wear the rainbow armband alongside 18 other captains, even though he displayed his own message.
Meanwhile, Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, an observant Muslim, refused to don the rainbow armband, invoking his religious beliefs for the decision.
In a discussion with the Daily Mail, Guehi’s father, John, rebuked the association for what he perceives as hypocrisy given that Sam Morsy faced no sanctions. He argued: "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."
Guehi's father asserted his son made the correct decision by opting to wear the rainbow armband, stating that his son's written words were an attempt to "balance the message". He further claimed he "doesn't see what is offensive."
Ipswich's captain will face no repercussions for declining to wear the armband, part of a campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community, due to his religious beliefs. His refusal did not violate any rules, however, Guehi's modification of the armband is considered a rule breach.
