Football and LGBT

[jimmy jazz]

Just thought I'd post a thread.

The Premier League has a campaign to support the inclusion of LGBT people in football. Captains of the teams are currently wearing rainbow armbands instead of the normal captain's armband during games.

Two players have caused a stir in the world of football this week because of their wearing or lack of, of the rainbow armband.

Sam Morsy has refused because of his religious beliefs - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cevgyx14vpxo

People have rightly pointed out that if he was being consistent, he should also have refused to wear gambling sponsors.

Marc Guehi wore it but wrote 'Jesus Loves You' on his - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cdr0j3xyyvpo

Guhei has been warned that religious messages are not allowed.

Thoughts?

[Marie Monday]

I don't see why religious messages shouldn't be allowed, as long as they're not homophobic. Anyway this would require a big overhaul of men's football culture and probably more than some armbands. Maybe forging a stronger connection with women's football would help, things are obviously quite the opposite there

[Trollheart]

I woul ddefinitely be against religious messages. We all know God loves football, so why do we need to advertise it. Does it not say in the Bible: and on the eight day, God created football!? Seriously though, once you get into religious messages next it's political ones, and then you have people clashing over beliefs. Why then can't the Iranian team, for instance, put DEATH TO AMERICA or the Israeli team YOU'RE ALL FUCKING ANTISEMITES on their shirts? If a campaign is instigated, I see no reason why anyone should be abstaining from, or disagreeing with, the tenets of it. After all, anyone not supporting LGBTQ rights is a knob, right?

Also, it's the POSITIONING of these so-called religious messages that's the real problem. They're clearly meant as a rejection of the LGBTQ message, in effect saying "Fuck you, I'm a Christian and Jesus hates fags" or words to that effect. So no, in that case I don't think anyone should be allowed "opt out" or insert thier own messages which run contrary to the spirit of the campaign. Guys (and girls, presumably) coming out in football has been hard enough for the players involved; their efforts should be recognised and rewarded, supported and legitimised.

[jimmy jazz]

Seriously though, once you get into religious messages next it's political ones

Many would argue we are already there with poppies, BLM and Ukraine.

[Trollheart]

Good point. It's hard to draw the line though isn't it? What's next - shirts with MY CAT IS MISSING PLEASE HELP? Football shirts are slowly becoming less the vehicle of sponsors and more like the real-world equivalent of Facebook posts.