Clean-sheet Guehi sends armband message

For England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, every day’s a clean sheet.

The centre-back believes in Jesus, lives each day with the slate-cleansing power of God’s grace and mercy, and he’s happy to wear that heart on his sleeve – literally.

Guehi, 24, was contacted by the Football Association this season for writing “Jesus ❤️ U” on his captain’s armband. It broke FA rules on religious messages on kits, but Guehi only bows to Jesus, not the FA, and for the next game played with an armband stating: “Jesus loves you 🙂”

The controversy ignited a debate within football, especially as the opposition captain for the second game had also exercised his freedom of expression – without being warned. Ipswich Town skipper and Muslim Sam Morsy, when asked to wear the Rainbow Pride armband, was the only Premier League captain who chose not to.

Cue the debate on tolerance within the beautiful game, and whether LGBTQ+ efforts aimed at promoting that very issue through the rainbow armbands were reflected in Guehi’s warning.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner waded in with: “He is no child; he is an adult. He has his opinion, and we accept and respect every opinion.”

Guehi’s opinions can now be shared with millions through his status as one of the rising stars of the Premier League and the platform that provides. The FA might not like armband Christian messages, but it can’t stop him sharing his faith with the national media.

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