Town have issued a statement regarding Sam Morsy not wearing a captain’s armband in support of the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces.

Morsy, 33, was the only top-flight skipper not to don the armband backing the campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community during the weekend matches, the club citing the midfielder’s religious beliefs. The Egypt international is a practising Muslim.

“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,” a club spokesperson said.

“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.”

Photo: Matchday Images

MickMillsTash added 16:03 - Dec 2 Tricky - if there is a gay player in the team how would that action affect him?
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bluejacko added 16:06 - Dec 2 Well if it’s alright for him to wear a Palestinian flag on promotion day ( I didn’t agree)and nobody said a thing about it why is his decision to not wear an armband an issue?
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ChingShady added 16:07 - Dec 2 Focus on the football people, politics, your sexual orientation, your gender or if you choose to identify as a tree, should all just be left out.
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blueboyd added 16:09 - Dec 2 There are areas of his life which are not that of a religious belief, I do wonder why he picks this to be part of his religious belief. personally I am disappointed with his stance.
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orfordbuoy added 16:21 - Dec 2 The club has got this wrong. Morsy's archaic and intolerant religion is why he does not want to give up one day in the year to show solidarity and support for this repressed sector of our society. We are the only club in the league not to join in with this inclusive act because one man follows a religion where gay rights are seen as a crime.
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Eeyore added 16:26 - Dec 2 I support the idea of showing support to LGBTQ+ . However, I don't mind if someone decides they don't want to. Its a personal choice. People who are on a mission to single out and judge those who don't hold the 'correct' beliefs are surely missing the point and haven't read enough History or George Orwell books.
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Oldschoolnumber9 added 16:26 - Dec 2 Orfordbuoy. Remember, we are talking about trying to force a grown man to wear an item of clothing he doesn’t want to wear. Sounds a little archaic to me.
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orfordbuoy added 16:32 - Dec 2 Why do folk talk about about personal choice? He is not going out there representing himself. He represents Ipswich Town Football Club and its fans and is consciously not showing solidarity with every other club. Simply, his religion is preventing him from backing inclusivity.
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Jugsy added 16:38 - Dec 2 Quite astonishing how many posters can't see the benefit in showing support of minority groups in our communities. Many seem much more interested in showing a lack of support because of your 'legal right'. Means very little to you as individuals to show support, means a tremendous amount to those who don't feel accepted in society.
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Jugsy added 16:40 - Dec 2 Oldschoolnumber9 - thanks for writing a post that shows us that you're missing the point.
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BlueCanadian added 16:42 - Dec 2 I'm disappointed with Morsy's decision. By not wearing the rainbow armband on the day designated for it he is making a direct statement against human rights for the LGBT community. We don't have to be tolerant of intolerance.
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Saxonblue74 added 16:53 - Dec 2 So the LGBGTQ+ community, their rights and beliefs, are more important than Sam's? Every individual is entitled to their own opinion.
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SuperTabby added 16:55 - Dec 2 Some of the comments here really highlight why initiatives like the rainbow laces weekend are needed. We’ve still got a long way to go before people will be tolerant of people’s sexuality in football.
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Cloddyseedbed added 17:01 - Dec 2 Good well done Morsy, fully behind you. Pity others haven't the guts to do it. I for one am fed up having it shoved in our faces. Just leave football out of it. Just attention seekers.
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SickParrot added 17:06 - Dec 2 Given his Muslim upbringing and beliefs, I understand why Sam couldn't wear the armband but we could still have shown our support for the LGBTQ+ community by naming another captain for the game. We slipped up there. I hope that in private Sam has reservations about this aspect of the Muslim faith.
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Cloddyseedbed added 17:15 - Dec 2 There would be an outcry if there was a 'Heterosexual Day' (we never get a mention) and players had to wear a specified colour to show their support? Just give us a break. Leave personal beliefs out of it.
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SoCalTownFan added 17:43 - Dec 2 Looks like the non vocal majority are making their voices heard with the up and down arrows here. Keep your propaganda away from this game, most people don't care, aren't interested and don't want the player sot be forced to go along with it. Keep your rainbow laces and wear them yourself, mind your own business and everyone else can mind their
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BlueNomad added 17:48 - Dec 2 Sam doesn’t speak in the media about his beliefs or criticise others. He should, therefore, be respected.
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TractorfactorSteve added 17:52 - Dec 2 A fair bit of faulty thinking going on. I don't get why some feel that equality should only apply to them and not others. Sam Morsey made his position known prior to the match and the decision made by tthe 'club' should have reflected their position regarding commitments made to 'the cause' and have given the armband to someone who shared the 'club's' view. Morsey remains team captain on the pitch regardless of his views and those picked to play on the day are also in the team whatever they may think. Can't help wondering what some on here might think about the number of players who bless themselves by signing themselves onto the pitch or seek blessings from on high following scoring a goal? Daresay if they're not gay it's of no importance.

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SuperBlue1998 added 17:53 - Dec 2 I have to say that as a gay fan who follows the club home and away I have found the comments here really worrying. I obviously disagree with Morsy not wearing the armband but ultimately that is his choice so I can't see what the club can do about it beyond what they have. What is concerning is the presentation of his action by some posters (seemingly very popular posts at that) as some sort of heroic act - against a "deranged", "attention seeking" minority and indeed taking on the "mainstream media". It really saddens me that so many of you see it this way. I personally do alter my behaviour because I'm a gay fan: I would not attend a game with a partner, for instance (or at least not openly interact with them in a way that would give this away) and I can't see that being the case for those of you in straight relationships - this is why the attention-seeking/virtue signalling critique is so preposterous to me, attention is the last thing I would personally want! I think a little empathy could go a long way here in our discussion as a fanbase on this (comparing being gay with holding beliefs/opinions strikes me as lacking this: one is an ascribed characteristic and one is not). Sad to say I'll go to Portman Road tomorrow night feeling slightly less comfortable. COYB

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armchaircritic59 added 17:53 - Dec 2 Ok everyone, I am a member of the LGTBQ + community, just for reference. I believe in tolerance and respect for anyone's lifestyles and preferences if they are practiced peacefully. I don't have a shadow of doubt that the great majority of the Muslim population are amongst the most peaceful people on the planet. Whilst I find it a pity that SM has taken his stance, I fully respect his reasons for doing so.

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Rimsy added 18:04 - Dec 2 Well done Sam Morsy. Having anyones beliefs or ideals forced upon us is ridiculous and meaningless. It certainly doesn't promote harmony in society being lambasted if you don't tow the line.
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Europablue added 18:12 - Dec 2 SoCalTownFan Exactly. It is right that gay people should feel welcome coming to matches, but it is equality and no more. There is no need for special treatment. The idea that there is an LGBT community is ridiculous, unless we are talking about online because gay people are part of our community. They are not below us deserving ridicule, and they are not above us deserving special treatment because they are part of our club.

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smithlarr added 18:21 - Dec 2 He never had an issue wearing gambling sponsors that his religion is against. Islam has a very public opinion on gay people, and publicly supporting that is worth criticism. Being gay is not a choice, but religion is; the rainbow laces campaign is there to support the inclusion of people who are discriminated against in this sport, which is rampant despite what people might think. Love our Egyptian King, but he deserves the criticism he'll get for this.

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orfordbuoy added 18:24 - Dec 2 those countless male football players we can name that felt comfortable to 'come out' shows that Morsy had no need to stand with the other 19 captains to further acceptance of this community.
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