Premier League captain refuses to wear rainbow armband AGAIN

A Premier League captain has refused to wear a rainbow armband for the second time in three days.

As part of the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, captains of top-flight clubs were given rainbow armbands to be worn over the weekend and during the ongoing round of midweek fixtures.

However, Ipswich Town's Sam Morsy, 33, who is a practising Muslim, did not wear the armband for Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest due to his religious beliefs.

He was also spotted without the rainbow armband as the players took to the pitch for Tuesday night's clash between Ipswich and Crystal Palace at Portman Road.

His opposite number, Marc Guehi, also sparked controversy after scrawling 'I love Jesus' on his armband for Palace's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.

Guehi was formally reprimanded by the FA for writing on his armband, but he still wrote 'Jesus loves you' in a new message on his armband on Tuesday night.

The England star is a devout Christian, and his father is a church minister. Guehi's dad, John, hit out at the FA for reprimanding his son, while not taking action against Morsy.

He told MailOnline: '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.

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'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. 

'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.'

In light of Morsy's refusal to wear the rainbow armband on the weekend, Ipswich released a statement insisting the club 'proudly supports' the Premier League's campaign.

'Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone. We proudly support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance,' the spokesperson said.

'During this year’s campaign, members of the club’s men’s and women’s first-teams visited our Foundation’s weekly LGBTQ+ football session, while the club also made a joint pledge of solidarity and inclusivity alongside Nottingham Forest ahead of Saturday’s game.

'A range of further initiatives are planned around Tuesday’s home game with Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium's big screen in the moments prior to kick-off.

'At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband, due to his religious beliefs. We will continue to grow an environment where all are valued and respected, both on and off the pitch.'

Morsy, has now opted not to wear the armband for the second straight game, and it remains to be seen whether he will be reprimanded for his actions.  

Amid the controversy surrounding Morsy and Guehi's respective stances, the other 18 Premier League captains all wore the rainbow armband in support of the LGBTQ+ initiative over the weekend.

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But Morsy is not the only captain to abstain from wearing the rainbow armband over the years.

Last season, Sheffield United captain Anel Ahmedhodzic became the first skipper in seven years to refuse to wear a rainbow armband. 

The Bosnia-Herzegovina star didn't provide an official response as to why he didn't wear it but Swedish outlet SVT Sport claimed he got back to them when questioned via text message, as the defender cryptically said: 'Guess', before failing to answer further questions. 

There have also been notable examples on the continent, with Orkun Kokcu and Idrissa Gueye - then of Feyenoord and PSG respectively - citing religious grounds for their objection.