Premier League footballer avoids ban for writing ‘I Love Jesus’ on LGBT armband

[PTK]

Yeh why would I name seven when there aren't seven stripes on the armband?

Numbers are a pre-capitalist concept adopted by bourgeois society. They are a hangover from Ancient Slave society. Under communism, there will be no numbers.

 

[Sue]

Violet is the seventh colour of the rainbow, according to many people.

Oh! I know this one.

Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair.

 

[PTK]

Oh! I know this one.

Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair.

Only in the morning, when we rise. It is dyed black later in the day.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

You are missing a colour, violet. There are seven colours in a rainbow. Aah the armband only has 6 colours, is that what you mean?

apparently the (pride) rainbow flag started as 8 colours (pink being added to the 7) but ended up as 6 so it could be hung vertically in two sections which is difficult with an odd number of stripes, and has been like that since the late 70s.

although don't think the rainbow flag spread from the US to UK until some time after that. more here.

as for the original question, dunno really.

obviously, i oppose discrimination on grounds of sexuality etc, but have slightly mixed feelings about the idea of people being required by their employers to wear something that's in some way political, whether i agree with the politics in question or not. (compare and contrast with the fuss made about a few footballers who didn't wear a poppy on their shirt)

shows of solidarity / support are one thing, but when it is imposed from on high, how much of a meaningful or empty gesture is it?

there's also the issue for footballers that some of them come from countries where homosexual acts are illegal so they may be reluctant to show signs of support.

 

[PTK]

Only in the morning, when we rise. It is dyed black later in the day.

That's the time I love George Best.

 

[PTK]

I was pleased today that a nurse in the hospital that I visited as an out-patient was allowed to wear a Palestine flag on her lanyard.

 

[Serene]

apparently the (pride) rainbow flag started as 8 colours (pink being added to the 7) but ended up as 6 so it could be hung vertically in two sections which is difficult with an odd number of stripes, and has been like that since the late 70s.

although don't think the rainbow flag spread from the US to UK until some time after that. more here.

as for the original question, dunno really.

obviously, i oppose discrimination on grounds of sexuality etc, but have slightly mixed feelings about the idea of people being required by their employers to wear something that's in some way political, whether i agree with the politics in question or not. (compare and contrast with the fuss made about a few footballers who didn't wear a poppy on their shirt)

shows of solidarity / support are one thing, but when it is imposed from on high, how much of a meaningful or empty gesture is it?

there's also the issue for footballers that some of them come from countries where homosexual acts are illegal so they may be reluctant to show signs of support.

Thanks for your post Puddy Tat, yours are always good posts. I didnt know about the 6 colour flag. I do think that the footballer has written on the armband because it is his decision and not because of any possible threat or trouble from another country where they might be from, yet if it was for a cause that he liked he would be happy wearing it.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I didnt know about the 6 colour flag

I knew that the pride flag was 6 colours, but had never really given much thought (or looked it up) about why

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Not really. I do find it ridiculous whenever footballers are made to wear armbands, those stupid poppys printed on their shirts or similar at their corporate master's behest.

Same.

The entry of football into the culture war - with all of its amoral, saturated in neo-liberalism and dead eyed consumption - has been hilarious.

Remember the rainbow laces and armband that the Engerland team perfomatively wore and then immediately abandoned the minute there was some heat from the repressive Saudi's who were hosting the world cup?

Remember the multi millonaire's lecturing us about inequality when their own employers use zero hours contracts to exploit those serving food and drink at the ground and about which they have fuck all to say?

Remember their 'no room for racism' campaign supported by 'allies' from some of the biggest corporations on the planet who exploit black workers in the real world each and every day?

Does anyone seriously think wearing an armband is some sort of stand? Or that some religious crank writing on it says anything?

 

[Serene]

Same.

The entry of football into the culture war - with all of its amoral, saturated in neo-liberalism and dead eyed consumption - has been hilarious.

Remember the rainbow laces and armband that the Engerland team perfomatively wore and then immediately abandoned the minute there was some heat from the repressive Saudi's who were hosting the world cup?

Remember the multi millonaire's lecturing us about inequality when their own employers use zero hours contracts to exploit those serving food and drink at the ground and about which they have fuck all to say?

Remember their 'no room for racism' campaign supported by 'allies' from some of the biggest corporations on the planet who exploit black workers in the real world each and every day?

Does anyone seriously think wearing an armband is some sort of stand? Or that some religious crank writing on it says anything?

Thats a great post smokeandsteam. It shows great intellect and depth of study. On the last sentence in it about religious writing saying anything, I just think that it is shocking as they are paid a fortune for their job and if they cant go along with something like that without doing what he did, it shows the depth of their bigotry. It also shocks me these days to see this sort of thing as I thought we were through all that sort of thing, but nope up it pops again.

 

[zedr]

Same.

The entry of football into the culture war - with all of its amoral, saturated in neo-liberalism and dead eyed consumption - has been hilarious.

Remember the rainbow laces and armband that the Engerland team perfomatively wore and then immediately abandoned the minute there was some heat from the repressive Saudi's who were hosting the world cup?

Remember the multi millonaire's lecturing us about inequality when their own employers use zero hours contracts to exploit those serving food and drink at the ground and about which they have fuck all to say?

Remember their 'no room for racism' campaign supported by 'allies' from some of the biggest corporations on the planet who exploit black workers in the real world each and every day?

Does anyone seriously think wearing an armband is some sort of stand? Or that some religious crank writing on it says anything?

I get and largely share the cynicism at these displays of acceptance in an industry which is hugely amoral.

And whilst these are token gestures, I do think it has been part of a general shift at lower levels (and youth levels) which has brought about more positive change, including more people feeling able to play, finding teams etc.

I also think Guehi's action - whilst being mealy mouthed and cowardly, say what you really mean - sets a tone you still see replicated by kids who look up to him, that not being straight is perverse.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

I get and largely share the cynicism at these displays of acceptance in an industry which is hugely amoral.

And whilst these are token gestures, I do think it has been part of a general shift at lower levels (and youth levels) which has brought about more positive change, including more people feeling able to play, finding teams etc.

Is there any evidence of that? If there is then great.

But, of course, one of the conscious and planned consequences of the Premier League has been to suck resources away from the rest of the pyramid and into the richest clubs and away from grassroots football. That money is then largely offshored and not reinvested back into the rest of the pyramid or is deployed into sportswashing.

I really don’t think wearing an armband offsets the stomach churning Thatcherite expression that is football.

 

[hash tag]

I'm not religious and that doesn't cause offence. It's not like it's a huge banner across the front of his shirt so he is not ramming the message down people's throats. Are people trying to say he is anti homisexual? Bearing in mind there is no openly gay player in the top flight and only the odd one in the league as a whole.

 

[PTK]

I'm not religious and that doesn't cause offence. It's not like it's a huge banner across the front of his shirt so he is not ramming the message down people's throats. Are people trying to say he is anti homisexual? Bearing in mind there is no openly gay player in the top flight and only the odd one in the league as a whole.

I wonder what the Gay Christian Movement would think?

 

[Boo Radley75]

Ah, the Bible, where the love for Jonathan that David had was greater than for a woman. Broke back mountain ain't got shit on the Bible.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Does anyone seriously think wearing an armband is some sort of stand? Or that some religious crank writing on it says anything?

I think forcing people to wear symbols of any kind is stupid. For example, I won't wear a poppy because it implies support for UK forces who are currently helping Israel to slaughter children and raze hospitals.

And clearly for some people, gay people existing is a crime akin to slaughtering children and razing hospitals, so a rainbow armband is as heinous a symbol to them as a poppy is to me. That's a shit attitude, but forcing people to pretend that's not how they feel achieves nothing but hiding the scale of homophobia and intolerance.

 

[MickiQ]

Numbers are a pre-capitalist concept adopted by bourgeois society. They are a hangover from Ancient Slave society. Under communism, there will be no numbers.

There will be numbers but they will all be equal.

 

[Pickman's model]

There will be numbers but they will all be equal.

Every number is infinite; there is no difference

 

[kabbes]

I think forcing people to wear symbols of any kind is stupid. For example, I won't wear a poppy because it implies support for UK forces who are currently helping Israel to slaughter children and raze hospitals.

And clearly for some people, gay people existing is a crime akin to slaughtering children and razing hospitals, so a rainbow armband is as heinous a symbol to them as a poppy is to me. That's a shit attitude, but forcing people to pretend that's not how they feel achieves nothing but hiding the scale of homophobia and intolerance.

“How DARE you write your political slogan over the top of our political slogan!”

Saying that, I do recognise that this isn’t inherently any different to any other employer who has a policy position and then requires its employees to mouth that line. You must always make sure your statements are consistent with the values of the Carphone Warehouse.

 

[not a trot]

Oh! I know this one.

Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair.

But is it mellow yellow ?

 

[krink]

You shouldn't be forced to wear anything by your employer. I want to see naked football.

 

[Santino]

“How DARE you write your political slogan over the top of our political slogan!”

Saying that, I do recognise that this isn’t inherently any different to any other employer who has a policy position and then requires its employees to mouth that line. You must always make sure your statements are consistent with the values of the Carphone Warehouse.

According to their website, the values of Carphone Warehouse haven't changed since they first opened the doors to their first store in 1989, which means they are potentially missing out on 35 years of social progress.

 

[Pickman's model]

According to their website, the values of Carphone Warehouse haven't changed since they first opened the doors to their first store in 1989, which means they are potentially missing out on 35 years of social progress.

You're making the mistake of assuming there's been 35 years of social progress

 

[JimW]

Generally agree that you shouldn't expect individuals to wear a political slogan; the advertising on the shirts is probably problematic too in a lot of cases but that comes with job for pro footballers I suppose.

 

[Petcha]

Generally agree that you shouldn't expect individuals to wear a political slogan; the advertising on the shirts is probably problematic too in a lot of cases but that comes with job for pro footballers I suppose.

In cricket they let Muslim players wear booze advert-free shirts if they want. They can't do much about the adverts circling the ground of course.

Personally I think this guy's a fucking tool but I also think it's a bit stupid to make players wear something they object to. Wasn't there some kerfuffle a couple of years ago when FIFA banned England from having poppies on their shirts?

 

[Spymaster]

“How DARE you write your political slogan over the top of our political slogan!”

Exactly this!

Are we going to see teams wearing Palestine armbands next?

"Support Israel"?

How about TRUMP bandanas?

 

[Santino]

Gammonhotep would be a good name for a pig who's also a pharaoh for some reason.

His successor could be called Hamesses.

 

[pbsmooth]

The Ipswich captain who is a ‘practising Muslim’ just refused to wear it. No doubt picking and choosing where he draws the line - seems he definitely doesn’t like gay people and wants that to be clear!

Ipswich reveal captain Sam Morsy chose not to wear rainbow armband

Ipswich’s Sam Morsy was the only Premier League captain not to wear a rainbow armband in support of the LGBTQ+ community at the weekend

www.theguardian.com

 

[The39thStep]

Exactly this!

Are we going to see teams wearing Palestine armbands next?

"Support Israel"?

How about TRUMP bandanas?

Given the fact that the advice from the Premiere League is to ban Palestinian and Israeli flags from grounds probably not. Some supporters have also been refused entry for wearing Free Palestine shirts, Palestine flag-coloured bags and anything else that has the colours of the flag. On the other hand, the Premier League allowed players, managers, and supporters to have Ukrainian flags.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

Footballer Marc Guéhi will not be charged by England’s governing body after writing “I Love Jesus” on his rainbow-coloured captain’s armband.The Crystal Palace defender, who has played 22 times for England, including at this year’s Euros, wrote the phrase on his armband ahead of his side’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday (30 November).The armbands were worn by team captains as part of LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
According to reports, the Football Association (FA) could have charged the Palace captain – who scored an own goal during Saturday’s 1-1 draw – under its religious material guidelines. However, the player and club have instead been reminded about their responsibilities and will face any formal action, which could have resulted in a suspension or fine.
FA policy allows initiatives and slogans that promote football, respect and integrity, but not “political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.”The policy says that “for any offence, the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by [world governing body] FIFA”.Guéhi’s actions could have been seen as an aggravating factor, according to ESPN.Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy also came under fire this weekend for refusing to wear the armband, making him the only Premier League skipper to do so. The club confirmed on Monday (2 December) that Morsy, a practising Muslim, refused to wear the armband on religious grounds.
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Any opinions on this?

He scored an own goal. That was Jesus.