Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo will be reminded by the Football Association (FA) about the organisation’s rules after displaying a religious message on his shirt during his side’s win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Gakpo scored Liverpool’s third goal in the 5-1 win as the club sealed a 20th top-flight title.
The Netherlands international fired past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the 34th minute and took off his shirt in celebration, revealing a vest with the message, “I belong to Jesus” on the front. It bore resemblance to the shirt worn by former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka, which displayed the same message, after his Milan team defeated Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final.
Gakpo, who also wore the shirt in the title celebrations after the game, was booked for removing his jersey.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws of the game — which the FA follows — prohibit player’s equipment from containing “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.”
“The player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA,” IFAB adds.
In December, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was reminded by the FA about the organisation’s rules after twice displaying a religious message on his rainbow captain’s armband.
The rainbow laces campaign, an initiative run by the Premier League in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall to promote equality, diversity and LGBTQ+ acceptance, sees the league’s captains wear a rainbow armband during matches, though this is not mandatory.
Nineteen of the 20 captains wore the armband — Ipswich Town confirmed that Sam Morsy chose not to wear it due to religious reasons — including Guehi. Against Newcastle United on November 30, Guehi wrote the words, “I love Jesus” on the armband and three days later against Ipswich Town displayed the words “Jesus loves you”. “I think the message was pretty clear to be honest,” Guehi told Sky Sports News at the time. “It was a message of love, of truth as well and a message of inclusivity, so I think it speaks for itself.”
The England international, along with Palace, was contacted by the FA to remind him of the rules. Neither was formally charged.