Controversy hits French anti-homophobia campaign

After another controversy-filled campaign against homophobia in French football’s top flight, players are facing sanctions.

Nemanja Matic and Ahmed Hassan, both L.A. players, were covered up in the league’s anti-homophobia symbol, while Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed withdrew from his side’s crucial relegation-decider against Montpellier.

Additionally, it has been claimed that Lens defender Jonathan Gradit was allegedly heard yelling a homophobic insult in the tunnel during their 2-1 win over Monaco.

On Sunday, sports minister Marie Barsacq demanded punishment in a statement.

The fifth year of the Ligue 1 campaign, which promotes inclusion and raises awareness, is underway. In stadiums, banners and other common attire are displayed, along with rainbow-colored symbols.

The campaign logo was taped onto former Serbia midfielder Matic’s shirt and Hassan’s shirt on Saturday.

Mohamed, a fellow Egyptian international, did not participate in his team’s victory, which kept them in the division.

I think that we must treat each other with the respect we owe both to ourselves and our beliefs. Before the match, Nantes’ Mohamed said on Instagram that his deep-rooted values are related to my background and beliefs, which make my involvement in this initiative challenging.

The player will be fined by the club, according to reports in France, if the club donates the funds to a charity that fights LGBTQ+ discrimination.

The French Football Federation is determined to put this topic on the clubs’ and supporters’ agenda, according to sports minister Barsacq. “Football has a massive platform.

Homophobic remark: “This is unacceptable. Football has evolved, and the language must adapt to this. There are a wide range of sanctions that must be imposed.

Jonathan Clauss, a France international and Nice full-back, expressed his support for the campaign last week, saying that “the very existence of a debate is a problem.”

Some Toulouse players said they had “expressed their disagreement with the association of their image with the rainbow colors representing the LGBT movement” and that they had missed a game with the club in 2023.