Matic in hot water for hiding Ligue 1 anti-homophobia badge with him and Ahmed Hassan conceal shirt logo..
Matic criticised for hiding Ligue 1 anti-homophobia badge on shirt.
A homophobic slur was heard in a stadium tunnel, players refused to wear campaign emblems, and one striker skipped his team’s game, turning what was supposed to be a weekend of solidarity against homophobia in Ligue 1 into a scandal and a humiliation for French football.
During Saturday’s games, Ahmed Hassan of Le Havre and Nemanja Matic of Lyon both wore the French league’s anti-homophobia badge.
Mostafa Mohamed, a forward for Nantes, left his team’s game against Montpellier due to personal reasons. This is the third time the Egypt international has chosen to decline the invitation.
At halftime during their match against Monaco, Jonathan Gradit, the defender for Lens, was overheard in the tunnel hurling a homophobic remark.
Marie Barsacq, France’s new sports minister, made a strong statement on Sunday, demanding immediate action in response to the series of occurrences.
“Football has a massive platform, and the [French Football] Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs’ and supporters’ agenda,” Barsacq said. “Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it. There’s a full range of sanctions available, and they must be applied.”
Players speaking up is a rare occasion, although the former France international Antoine Griezmann said six years ago: “If a gay player wants to come out, he might not have all the France players with him, but he will have me.”
The Nice full-back Jonathan Clauss said last week he was pessimistic about the fight against homophobia. “I think it’s a never-ending fight, because there will never be 100% of people who agree. And the very fact that there’s a debate is a problem,” he said.