Premier, storm over Morsy: he refuses to wear the rainbow sash “for religious reasons”

Sam Morsy drew the ire of the LGBTQ+ community. The Ipswich Town captain, a practicing Muslim, refused to wear the rainbow armband during the match against Crystal Palace (0-1), in the week dedicated to inclusion in English football. A decision taken for religious reasons and from which his club, newly promoted to the Premier League, distanced itself without fully condemning it.

“Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club, welcoming all. We proudly support the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and support the LGBTQ+ community to promote equality and acceptance,” a spokesperson said of the British team. The Egyptian international is not the first to have refused to wear this particular armband: last season Sheffield United’s Anel Ahmedodzic also made this decision.