Sam Morsy, the captain of Ipswich Town, declined to wear a Rainbow captain’s armband during Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, prompting the club to issue an official statement.
The Rainbow Laces initiative, which aims to incorporate LGBT+ inclusiveness into English football from the top to the bottom, made a comeback over the weekend.
Since its inception more than ten years ago, the campaign has grown considerably, with clubs all throughout the country flying Rainbow corner flags and captains wearing Rainbow armbands in addition to the distinctive laces.
Captains around the nation wear the multicoloured armband in support of the aforementioned population, which has historically encountered a harsh and homophobic attitude in sports and football in general.
However, Morsy, who has been Kieran McKenna’s designated on-field leader since 2021, was the only one of the 20 Premier League-level captains who refused to comply with him; instead, he wore a typical Premier League captain’s armband.
Ipswich has confirmed to The Mirror that Morsy, who is regarded as one of the team’s most important players, chose not to follow the custom because of his personal religious convictions. The 33-year-old nine-cap Egypt international is a devout Muslim.
Nevertheless, Ipswich, who face relegation, have restated their commitment to opposing homophobia in football, even though their captain has refused to do so. According to the club’s statement:
“Ipswich Town Football Club is dedicated to welcoming everyone and being an inclusive club. We stand with the LGBTQ+ community in advocating for equality and inclusion, and we are delighted to support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces initiative.
“The club also made a joint pledge of solidarity and inclusivity alongside Nottingham Forest ahead of Saturday’s game, and members of the club’s men’s and women’s first-teams visited our Foundation’s weekly LGBTQ+ football session during this year’s campaign,” the statement added.
A “range of further initiatives” are planned for their upcoming home game against Crystal Palace at Portman Road tomorrow as a way to demonstrate their support: “A number of other activities are scheduled in relation to Tuesday’s home match against Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium’s large screen just before kickoff.
However, we appreciate our captain Sam Morsy’s decision to forgo the rainbow captain’s armband because of his religious convictions. On and off the pitch, we will keep fostering an atmosphere where everyone is appreciated and valued.
xz
