Man United reportedly scrapped plans to wear an LGBT rainbow jacket after Noussair Mazraoui refused to wear it.
During the past two years, as part of the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign, United’s players have worn a pride-themed jersey to warm up ahead of games, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
According to The Athletic, this year United had planned to walk-out in a rainbow jacket prior to their clash against Everton but Moroccan star Noussair Mazraoui refused.
The outlet claim that the Mazraoui, who is a devout Muslim, told his teammates that he would not be wearing the jacket and cited his religious faith as his reasoning.
The club then decided that no player would wear the tracksuit, so that Mazraoui would not be singled out publicly. The decision was reportedly taken hours before kick-off on Sunday.
Mazraoui’s refusal to wear the pre-match jacket comes after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy – who is also a devout Muslim – twice refused to wear the rainbow armband.
Man United scrapped plans to wear an LGBT rainbow jacket after Noussair Mazraoui refused
In previous seasons, United have worn the top to show their support for the LGBT community
Mazraoui (left) – who is a devout Muslim – told teammates he would not wear it due to his faith
As part of the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign this year, captains of top-flight clubs were given rainbow armbands to be worn over the weekend and during the ongoing round of midweek fixtures.
Morsy, 33, who is a practicing Muslim, did not wear the armband for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest due to his religious beliefs.
He was also spotted without the rainbow armband as the players took to the pitch for Tuesday night’s clash between Ipswich and Palace at Portman Road.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi – who is a devout Christian – opted to write ‘Jesus loves You’ on his rainbow armband. He has since been reprimanded by the FA.
In light of Morsy’s refusal to wear the rainbow armband on the weekend, Ipswich released a statement insisting the club ‘proudly supports’ the Premier League’s campaign.
‘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,’ the spokesperson said.
Guehi’s father – who is a church minister – has since accused the FA of double standards after Muslim player Morsy, who refused to wear the armband, was not punished – and claimed they are pandering to the demands of the LGBT community over Christians.
He told MailOnline: ‘I am saying did he offend anyone? I don’t think so. I do believe in what the Bible says, Jesus loves everyone, and, in my opinion, Marc did not offend anyone with what he wrote.
‘Jesus loved everyone therefore by saying ‘I love Jesus’ on his armband I really don’t see what is offensive and what the problem is.
‘If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in, it’s belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.
‘But if that opinion’s aim is to offend you then there is a problem but if my opinion is just to express what I feel then I think that is fine and I don’t think what Marc wrote on that armband is offensive.
‘He is talking about him, he loves Jesus and like I said he didn’t refuse to wear that armband, like Morsy, people should pay more attention to the person who refused to wear it.
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