Do you recall two years ago during the World Cup held in Qatar?

Back then, the FA and Harry Kane announced that the England captain would don a rainbow armband to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, especially after FIFA granted hosting rights to a nation that criminalizes homosexuality.

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Six other Western European nations were also set to make similar statements.

However, FIFA swiftly indicated that captains partaking in this “political” gesture would face sanctions.

As the prospect of such a gesture resulting in real sporting consequences loomed—heightening its significance—

the FA and its six counterparts executed a rapid change of course. They withdrew their support.

This illustrates the state of English football and its purported “support” for the LGBTQ+ community.

They appear to be willing to show support through symbolic yet hollow acts, while genuine, meaningful actions are conspicuously absent.

Fast forward two years, and the FA finds itself embroiled in another scandal, permitting Ipswich captain Sam Morsy—a practicing Muslim—not to wear a rainbow armband while reprimanding Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi—a devout Christian—for inscribing his armband with ‘I love Jesus’ and repeatedly declaring “Jesus Loves You.”

This situation is undeniably absurd. It conflates discrimination with the justification of “rules are rules.”

English football aimed to protest the hosting of the World Cup in Qatar.

Yet when faced with Newcastle’s financial backing from the Saudi regime—which oppresses women and penalizes homosexuality—or the Abu Dhabi government’s investment in Manchester City, they conveniently overlook it.

England star Marc Guéhi discusses his father’s faith and his Sunday church absences

When England defender Guehi, son of a Christian minister, took a stance during the Saturday 1-1 match against Newcastle, visiting captain Bruno Guimaraes appropriately wore his rainbow armband.

However, the regime he is associated with evidently fails to uphold the values this armband is meant to represent.

By sheer chance of the fixture schedule, Guehi and Morsy—born in Britain and an internationally recognized Egyptian player—confronted each other on Tuesday, highlighting the absurdity of one player being allowed to abstain from wearing an armband, while his counterpart faced retribution for writing on his.

Additionally, Manchester United’s Muslim defender Noussair Mazraoui refused to wear a specially-designed pre-match warm-up jacket during the club’s Rainbow Laces match against Everton.

Subsequently, United opted against having any players don the jackets to maintain team cohesion.

Thus, their expressed desire to support LGBTQ+ rights wanes when faced with complications.

A Lot of Work to Be Done

I consider myself fortunate to have been raised free from any religious influence, fundamentally believing that organized religion often causes more harm than good.

Nonetheless, I recognize that individuals like Guehi, Morsy, Mazraoui, and anyone with faith hold every right to practice as they please.

I also uphold the essential principle behind the rainbow campaign.

That everyone should have the liberty to love whom they choose without fear of condemnation.

In an increasingly secular world, this simple idea resonates with the majority.

Inclusivity should not be a forbidden term. LGBTQ+ individuals have justifiably felt excluded from engaging with football and attending matches.

Sometimes It’s Meaningless

The fact that there are still no openly gay footballers in the Premier League illustrates that considerable work still lies ahead.

However, when campaigns are clouded by the FA’s withdrawal in Qatar and the double standards regarding Guehi and Morsy, they unintentionally reinforce the biases of intolerant individuals and undermine their own intentions.

They lend validity to the narrative that the FA is excessively “woke,” although that isn’t entirely accurate.

The FA, along with English football broadly, is simply keen to embrace everyone and everything at all times.

It’s rare to attend an England match without observing a minute’s silence, which typically concludes with applause.

This often occurs in memory of a recently deceased former England player or manager, alongside victims of some tragedy or disaster globally, rendering it largely devoid of significance.

Opposite of ‘Wokeness’

It’s also peculiar that before each England match, around 100 active military personnel present themselves on the field.

Even more unusual was last month’s game against the Republic of Ireland, where the local community understandably finds the sight of British soldiers in uniform unwelcome.

This reality is genuinely contrary to the notion of “wokeness”—however that term is defined—and quite jarring in its contrast.

Then there’s Remembrance Day. I typically wear a poppy—or more accurately, I purchase multiple and then misplace them—all in personal homage to my relatives who served and made the ultimate sacrifice, recognizing my own fortune in evading such terrors faced by my grandfather and great-grandfather.

Yet football has escalated Remembrance Day to extreme levels, featuring The Last Post and observing moments of silence as early as October.

It even affords James McClean, an open supporter of IRA terrorism, the platform to express his views—opinions that are distasteful to many of us.

Gesture politics in football have morphed into a bewildering moral maze, illustrated by the absurdities surrounding Guehi and Morsy.

In a country fraught with anger and division, the sensible conclusion is that football should serve as a refuge—free from politics, religion, the military, and any other agenda.