The Egyptian player of FC Nantes Mostafa Mohamed, who did not play Sunday against Toulouse because he refused to wear a rainbow flocking jersey in support of LGBTQ +, will be sanctioned "financially but not sportingly," we learned Monday from internal source at the club.
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The amount of the penalty was not specified by this source, but the Nantes club, fighting for the maintenance and which receives Montpellier Saturday for the 36th day, has chosen this solution not to deprive itself of a key element of its attack, author of eight goals this season in the league of France.
«I respect all differences»
On the occasion of the annual campaign "Homos or straight, we all wear the same jersey", all players of the first and second divisions were invited last weekend to wear a jersey flocked with the colors of the rainbow, which also adorn the armbands of the captains, to fight against homophobia. These jerseys are to be auctioned for the benefit of the associations Foot Ensemble, PanamBoyz & Girlz United and SOS Homophobie.
On the night of Sunday to Monday, the Egyptian striker, of Muslim faith, explained his choice in a long message published on social networks. "I do not wish to polemicize at all but I must state my position (...) I respect all differences. I respect all beliefs and convictions. This respect extends to others but also includes respect for my personal beliefs," he wrote. "Given my roots, my culture, the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign. I hope my decision will be respected," said Mohamed.
Several other players had refused to wear this shirt, such as Moroccan player Zakaria Aboukhlal, who also did not appear on the match sheet of the Toulouse-Nantes match on Sunday.
The day before, the Senegalese defender of Guingamp Donatien Gomis had preferred to declare forfeit for the second division match in Sochaux not to participate in this campaign against homophobia, we had learned from his club. Government spokesman Olivier Véran deemed "null" and "anachronistic" this refusal of some players. "We live in an era today (...) where everyone is free to love each other as they wish," he said on France 2.