France’s top football (soccer) league has been caught up in a storm of controversy after several Muslim players refused to take part in a gesture of support for the LGBTQ community at the weekend.
Al-jazeeraThe French Professional League, the domestic football governing body, had called for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 players to wear shirts with rainbow-coloured numbers at this weekend’s matches ahead of Wednesday’s International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, Interphobia and Biphobia. But some players refused to do so.
Stade Brestois coach Eric Roy called the gesture “catastrophic”, a comment that drew widespread criticism on social media. “You can see that there are players who have a problem with it. Everyone is free to express their opinions. Personally, I have no problem with it. But there are players who may have a problem with it,” he said.
His Stade Rennais counterpart Bruno Genesio said that while he was against any kind of discrimination, he was “not sure it was a good idea to organise a day against LGBT”.
Insider Paper NANTES striker Mostafa Mohamed has been fined by his club after refusing to play at the weekend in a protest against an anti-LGBT campaign in France’s Ligue 1, the struggling side said on Monday. The club said Mohamed would be “punished financially” for “refusing to play against Toulouse for personal reasons at a time when FC Nantes are fighting to avoid relegation”.
Egyptian national Mohamed refused to take part in his team’s 0-0 draw at Toulouse to avoid being associated with the campaign, despite Nantes desperately needing points as they seek to climb out of the relegation zone.
The 25-year-old Mohamed, who is a Muslim, explained his decision for religious reasons not to play in a social media post on Sunday night.
Nantes added that the money would be donated to a charity that supports members of the LGBTQ community who are victims of discrimination.
The decision only to fine, rather than suspend, Mohamed ensures that Nantes will not deprive themselves of a player who has scored 11 goals this season as they sit one point from safety with three games of the season remaining.
Several other players also refused to take part in the campaign and therefore missed their team’s games over the weekend, including Toulouse winger Zakaria Aboukhlal, a Moroccan international.
French government spokesman Olivier Veran called the refusal by certain players to play in protest at the anti-LGBT campaign “rubbish” and “anachronistic”.
“We live in a world today… in which everyone is free to love who they want,” Veran told television station France2.
The decision only to fine, rather than suspend, Mohamed ensures that Nantes will not deprive themselves of a player who has scored 11 goals this season as they sit one point from safety with three games of the season remaining.
Several other players also refused to take part in the campaign and therefore missed their team’s games over the weekend, including Toulouse winger Zakaria Aboukhlal, a Moroccan international.
French government spokesman Olivier Veran called the refusal by certain players to play in protest at the anti-homophobia campaign “rubbish” and “anachronistic”.
“We live in a world today… in which everyone is free to love who they want,” Veran told television station France2.
FaithfulServantsOfChristKJV says
The homosexuality lobby has gone from “just wanting to be left alone” to now aggressively forcing everyone to adorn the symbols of homosexuality or have their life ruined.
It shows the homosexual agenda was never about “equality” but about supremacy.
Jack Rider says
I agree. It’s really about displacing traditional marriage between man and woman in order to destabilize the society.
Ghulam says
Many Muzzie males will BUGGER adolescent boys.
Pakistani-Pushtoons and Afghans have a proud tradition of Bacha bazi (literally means kiddie love), the Saudis have an Arabic saying: al-mamnu’ maghrub (that which has been banned is enjoyable).
There is a widely popular saying in Islamo-lands: “women are for procreation. Adolescent boys are for enjoyment. But for pure ecstasy, you need a beautiful sheep or goat.”
That said we’re all dead opposed to homosexuality and this LGBT-tranny nonsense. In Saudi Arabia, they won’t let you buy rainbow-colored toys. Rainbow candies are taken off the shelves regularly.
Allah u Akbar (Allah truly is the greatest)
The Music Man says
First time in my life I agree with Muslims!
The “LGBT community” has become more dangerous to America than a suitcase nuke in the hands of a Fakeistinian.
Straight FNA says
It’s getting really stupid. Winner takes all!