Ipswich Town have announced that their captain, Sam Morsy, chose not to wear a rainbow captain’s armband over the weekend due to his religious beliefs.
Morsy, a British-born Egyptian midfielder and practising Muslim, captained Ipswich during their loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
This occurred amid the annual Rainbow Laces campaign in the Premier League, which aims to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The Rainbow Laces initiative, run in partnership with the charity Stonewall, has been a part of the Premier League since 2013.
This year’s campaign runs from November 29 to December 5. In addition to rainbow armbands for captains and laces for players, the campaign also includes Rainbow Laces pitch flags, ball plinths, handshake boards, and substitute boards, all of which were used over the weekend and will continue through match-week 14.
In a statement provided to the Mirror, a club spokesperson said: “Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone. We proudly support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance.
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“During this year’s campaign, members of the club’s men’s and women’s first teams visited our foundation’s weekly LGBTQ+ football session, while the club also made a joint pledge of solidarity and inclusivity alongside Nottingham Forest ahead of Saturday’s game.
“A range of further initiatives are planned around Tuesday’s home game with Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium’s big screen in the moments prior to kick-off.
“At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband, due to his religious beliefs. We will continue to grow an environment where all are valued and respected, both on and off the pitch.”
Ipswich’s 1-0 defeat at the City Ground brought an end to their three-match unbeaten streak, leaving them in 19th place in the Premier League standings.
(The Telegraph)
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