Popular football analyst and commentator Emma Woolf has declared that the statement on Taiwo Awoniyi’s undershirt after his goal against Tottenham Hotspur is not offensive.
Emma Woolf said she’s a Christian and didn’t find it offensive but athletes need to be careful about how to express religious beliefs.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s undershirt read “God is the Greatest” after he took off his jersey to celebrate his goal for Nottingham Forest after the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Awoniyi’s undershirt statement has overshadowed his goal and Nottingham Forest’s performance as reports suggest that the striker could face sanctions from the English FA.
While reacting to the matter, Emma Woolf said the statement is not offensive but calls for caution and a clear definition of the rules given that there have been inconsistencies in its application in the past.
Well look I don’t think Awoniyi’s message “God is the greatest was offensive. It didn’t affect me, I am a Christian and I don’t think that is an offensive message.
But I think we need to be really clear. What if other religions use words we perceive to be offensive? What if a Muslim said “Homosexuality is a sin?”, What if a Catholic said, “Abortion is a crime?”
Emma Wolf also went ahead to advocate that football and sports generally must be separated from religious and political sentiments or doctrines.
I think we just need to ensure that we try as much as possible to keep sports away from religion and politics. A kind of neutral space and I think the rules need to be crystal clear and applied impartially…”
Taiwo Awoniyi has never hidden his Christian faith since he arrived at Nottingham Forest three seasons ago as he always expressed his belief through writings on his undershirts, shin pads among others, the kits he puts on.
