No FA punishment for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi after displaying religious message on rainbow armband

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is to face no formal action after he wrote a ‘Jesus loves you’ message on his rainbow-themed captain’s armband for Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win at Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, writes Edmund Brack.

The FA announced on Wednesday morning that the England international would escape punishment.

Guehi, who is a devout Christian, was reminded ahead of the game at Portman Road that religious messaging on kit is banned after the 24-year-old’s rainbow armband in Palace’s draw against Newcastle United on Saturday had the message ‘I love Jesus’ written on it.

The rainbow armbands are being worn as Premier League clubs show support for LGBTQ+ community in football by taking part in charity Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.

“We respect every single player,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner after Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Ipswich Town. “Marc is our captain and he had a fantastic game.

“Everybody who knows Marc, he is a great guy and very humble. We shouldn’t make it bigger than it is. Keep it calm.

“He is very respectful to everybody in the club. We are all against discrimination and abuse.

“It (Rainbow Laces) is a great campaign. “I speak with Marc quite often. He’s not a child, who is 15, he is an adult like every one of us.

“He has his opinion and we accept and respect that. This is the quote of the campaign – being tolerant. Marc is very tolerant.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD