By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-04 08:46:06 | Updated at 2024-12-04 19:02:15
10 hours ago
Footballer Marc Guehi sparked a heated row on GB News over his decision to write "I love Jesus" on his LGBT+ captain's armband.
The Crystal Palace defender will receive a formal reminder from the Football Association after penning the message on his rainbow armband during his team's match against Newcastle.
However, Guehi then used Palace's fixture against Ipswich Town to write another message, "Jesus loves you" on the band.
All 20 Premier League captains were issued with the rainbow-coloured armbands in partnership with charity Stonewall.
Marc Guehi's 'I love Jesus' armband has sparked a fiery row on GB News
GB News / Getty
Discussing the decision on GB News, former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton claimed that making such statements on the football pitch is "dangerous territory", warning of an escalation of the "ludicrous" situation.
Shilton argued: "It should be a general rule that we don't have any of these statements made on the football pitch.
"It's very dangerous territory for somebody to come out and say, I'm going to make this statement, because millions and millions of people around the world watch English football in particular. And I can see a lot of things being put into trouble with this."
While Shilton stated that such statements could be "very dangerous in the long run", commentator James Barr defended Guehi and argued that he had "no problem" with him penning a religious message on his armband.
"I don't see that as a problem. If they want to express that, that's fine. I don't see that as hate, but not wearing something and not taking the knee and going against the messaging of inclusion I do think is wrong."
In disagreement with Barr, Shilton stressed that players making an array of personal statements based on politics or religion will become "ludicrous".
Shilton explained: "You can't have individual players suddenly making statements all over the place.
"You might have one player making one statement that's totally different to another player that could be on the same team. I mean, it'll get ludicrous."
Shilton warned that footballers making such bold moves is 'dangerous territory'
GB News
Highlighting how football players already take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter, host Patrick Christys pressed Barr on why "wokies only seem to care about ethnic minorities when they're also pro-stonewall".
Barr responded: "That's a hilarious statement and completely untrue. This is literally about football clubs and Stonewall have have encouraged that. It's about the FA and football clubs in this country that want to make football for everyone.
"They want to say that football is for everyone, that's why there's rainbow laces and rainbow armbands. It's not a political statement, they're just trying to make everyone know that sport is a place for them, and anyone that wants to shut that out is wrong."
The FA has declined to comment on whether any repeat of such messaging by Guehi could result in formal charges.
