Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi says that the ‘Jesus loves you’ message he wrote on his rainbow armband on Tuesday was one of “truth and love and inclusivity”.
The Football Association is not going to take formal action against the England centre-back or Palace, despite the 24-year-old ignoring the organisation’s reminder that religious messaging is banned on kits.
Guehi was told about the FA’s regulations on the issue after he wrote the message ‘I love Jesus’ on his rainbow captain’s armband for Saturday’s match against Newcastle United.
However, the defender displayed a similar message on his armband against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
The rainbow armbands are being worn as part of the Premier League’s LGBTQ+ inclusion initiative, in association with the charity Stonewall. Team captains are encouraged but not required to wear one.
“The message was just a message of truth and love and inclusivity to be honest,” said Guehi, without expanding on the point further to explain specifically what he meant.
But he added: “I don’t think the message was harmful in any way – that’s all I can really say about that to be honest.”
He made the comments as part of a wide-ranging interview that can be heard in full on Saturday’s BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, before commentary of Crystal Palace against Manchester City.
“I believe 100% in the words that I wrote, even what I’ve just said now – it’s a message of truth and love, and I hope people can understand that my faith is my faith, and I’ll stand by it for the rest of my life,” he said.