During the final league game on Sunday, a player from Monaco soccer club sparked controversy by covering an anti-homophobia message on the team's shirt. The French league had organized a campaign against discrimination, with each team wearing a badge featuring the word 'homophobia' crossed out. However, Monaco midfielder taped over the badge during the match and skipped the pre-match group photo with the same message.
The actions of the player were met with strong criticism from French Sports Minister and the Minister of Equality, who both called for sanctions against the player and the club. The sports minister labeled the player's actions as 'unacceptable' and emphasized the need for 'firm sanctions.' The Minister of Equality condemned the player's behavior on social media, stating that 'homophobia is not an opinion, it's a crime' and called for strict punishment.
Monaco's coach mentioned that the club supports the league's initiative but described the player's actions as a 'personal choice.' The club announced that they would address the situation internally with the player. This incident is not the first of its kind in French soccer, as controversies have arisen in previous seasons regarding support for the LGBTQ movement.
In a similar incident in 2022, a player refused to wear shirts with rainbow-colored numbers, citing religious convictions. Last year, another player was fined for not participating in a game with rainbow-colored elements. Both players did not play in the respective games. The club's response to such incidents highlights the ongoing debate surrounding LGBTQ support in professional soccer in France.
These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of promoting inclusivity and combating discrimination in sports. The call for sanctions against the player and the club reflects the commitment to upholding values of respect and equality within the soccer community.
Source: AP soccer
