Religion to most people is a vital and pivotal aspect in their lives. It can be so important that it rules their lives and how they act in life. This even implies in sport. If an athlete is required to do something that goes against their faith and its practices; they may refuse to partake in the activity or alter it in some manner.
This has been the case in the Premier League. There have been a few players who have refused to wear a multi-coloured armband signalling their support for LGBTQ+ rights. This all comes to the players faith and their teachings.
For context, clubs were promoting inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community over the weekend through the Rainbow Laces campaign. This campaign, which has been at the forefront of combating homophobia and promoting equality in sports for over a decade, featured players wearing rainbow-coloured captain’s armbands and laces, while the corner flags were in the same colours.
Ipswich captain, Sam Morsy, declined to participate, citing his religious beliefs. The 32-year-old midfielder is a practising Muslim and Ipswich Town has confirmed that his decision stems from his faith.
In a statement, Ipswich said: "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."
"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.
"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."
Crystal Palace star, Marc Guehi, has defied the Football Association's warning after writing "Jesus loves you" on his rainbow captain's armband. In Palace's 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at the weekend, devout Christian Guehi added the words "I love Jesus" on his armband - prompting the Football Association (FA) to remind him that any religious message on a player's kit is prohibited. Despite that, the England international then changed the words to "Jesus loves you" for Palace's trip to Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
He has since spoken, writing on his Istagram account, "Jesus [loves] you. Stay blessed." In response to the media storm around Guehi, Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, said the club will continue to "respect" him.
He said, as quoted by the Mirror: “We respect every single player, especially Marc, who is our captain. He is a great guy, very humble and we shouldn’t make it bigger than it is, he is very respectful to everyone in the club."
"In football we are all against discrimination, it’s a great campaign. We spoke about it, we speak often as he is my captain." Glasner continued, "He is no child, he is an adult, he has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion. The quote of this campaign is to be tolerant and Marc is very tolerant."
Manchester United, as a club, did one step further and abandoned wearing rainbow jackets; in support of a single player's beliefs. Ahead of their match with Everton on Sunday (1 December), the team had planned to walk-out in rainbow jackets in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign, which promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
The Athletic reported that despite plans, Noussair Mazraoui, who is Muslim, refused to wear one and cited his religious beliefs to his colleagues as the reason. In response, the team decided no one would wear the jacket so that he wouldn’t be singled out publicly. According to the website, this decision was made just hours before kick-off.
Manchester United has said in response that it welcomes everyone and is "strongly committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion."
It's statement added: "We demonstrate these principles through a range of activities, including support for our Rainbow Devils supporters’ club, and campaigns to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fans and combat all forms of discrimination."
"Players are entitled to hold their own individual opinions, particularly in relation to their faith, and these may sometimes differ from the club’s position."
The reported incident, however, upset the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, with United’s LGBTQ+ fan group, the Rainbow Devil, airing their disappointment on X. On Wednesday (4 December), they took to the platform to share a statement in which they wrote news that the jackets wouldn’t be worn came as a "great disappointment."
Did you know:
Despite the progress made through initiatives like Rainbow Laces, discrimination remains a pressing issue for LGBTQ+ individuals in sports. A recent study revealed that 21% of LGBTQ+ fans attending live sporting events in the past year experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Alarmingly, that figure rises to 34% for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic LGBTQ+ individuals.
I applaud the above athletes for not compromising their beliefs. They stood their ground and didn't succumb to public pressure or board demands. Faith, after all, is a bedrock of humanity. No one can disturb or alter a bedrock.
I have a strong faith. However, I am not religious. Being Jewish (and of Christian descend), I would be happy to do what I can to show that I am committed to LGBTQ+ awareness. Everyone is equal, regardless of their gender; sex or sexual orientation.