Ipswich captain Sam Morsy refuses to wear LGBTQ+ rainbow armband
Ipswich Town, a club in the Premier League, has announced that their captain, Sam Morsy, chose not to wear a rainbow armband representing LGBTQ+ pride due to his religious beliefs.
This weekend, the Premier League and its teams marked LGBTQ+ inclusivity by participating in Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces initiative.
The league stated that the initiative has been crucial in fostering discussions about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports since 2013.
During the campaign, team captains sported armbands in vibrant rainbow colors, while numerous players chose to wear laces adorned with rainbow designs.
Before the campaign kicks off, the Premier League released a statement: "Throughout this time, the League and its clubs will highlight the efforts they make all year long to integrate equality, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of their operations."
This encompasses various activities and content involving players, coaches, and supporters, while also showcasing community and educational efforts aimed at fostering dialogue and supporting LGBTQ+ communities.
By emphasizing these efforts, the League seeks to foster enduring change, ensuring that everyone involved in the football community experiences a feeling of inclusion.
Ipswich captain Morsy was the only Premier League captain out of 20 who didn't wear a rainbow armband over the weekend. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's captain, Marc Guehi, will receive a reminder from the FA about the ban on religious messages after he included the phrase "I love Jesus" on his armband.
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The club expressed that they "honor his choice," which is based on his faith, while emphasizing their dedication to supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion. They stated that they "proudly back" the Rainbow Laces initiative.
"Ipswich Town Football Club is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces everyone," the statement read.
We are happy to back the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and show our solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in advocating for equality and acceptance for all.
This year, players from the club's men's and women's first teams took part in our Foundation's weekly LGBTQ+ football event. Additionally, the club teamed up with Nottingham Forest to make a shared commitment to solidarity and inclusivity before Saturday's match.
Several additional activities are set to take place in connection with Tuesday's home match against Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium's large screen just before the game starts.
We also understand and honor our captain Sam Morsy's choice not to wear the rainbow armband because of his religious beliefs.
"We will keep fostering a culture where everyone is appreciated and treated with respect, whether they're playing or not."
Morsy, originally from Wolverhampton but representing Egypt through his father's heritage, has played 140 matches for Ipswich since he joined the team in 2021.
The defensive midfielder, who follows the Islamic faith, has previously been part of teams such as Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Wigan Athletic, Chesterfield Town, and Port Vale.
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