Former Super Eagles and Stoke City forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has defended Crystal Palace defender, Marc Guehi, amidst charges from the English FA for a religious inscription on the LGBTQ captain band, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 24-year-old has been one of Crystal Palace’s most consistent players in recent years since joining from Swansea in 2021.
The Chelsea Cobham Academy graduate was recently charged by the English FA after he wrote a religious inscription on the LGTBTQ+ captain armband provided by the Premier League, but no punishment was meted.
In the game against Newcastle United, Guehi wrote “I Love Jesus” on the armband, and got a warning strike. In Palace’s following game against Ipswich Town, he changed the inscription to “Jesus Loves You”.
In the light of the FA’s charge, Osaze Odemwingie, has jumped to defend Guehi, claiming that the LGBTQ armband should not be forced on players, citing the importance of respecting people’s faith beliefs.
“I don’t agree with this because all they are trying to do is inclusivity; they are fighting for a cause, but you are promoting something, and at the same time, the guy wants to promote his own faith as well.
There is a conflict there with faith. The players believe in their faith, and when you believe in something, you stand for it. They’re crossing the line.
In my time, they asked us to show love to the community, asking, ‘Can some of you wear it?’, but forcing it on players is different,” the former Super Eagles striker said in quotes revealed by Brila.
Guéhi is yet to make a public statement about his decision, but took to Instagram on Tuesday evening, writing on his story: “Jesus [loves] you. Stay blessed”.
Crystal Palace head coach, Oliver Glasner, alongside Guéhi’s father, have come out to defend the English defender, claiming the club will continue to respect him.
“God is everywhere in this country and despite changing beliefs it is still a Christian country. If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in, it’s belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.
I do believe in what the Bible says, Jesus loves everyone, and, in my opinion, Marc did not offend anyone with what he wrote,” Guéhi’s Father, John, said as revealed by Daily Mail.
There are other players who have decided to not wear the armband at all, rather than writing inscriptions like Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy.