“Nothing and anachronistic”. This is how government spokesman Olivier Véran described on Monday the refusal of certain professional footballers to wear a rainbow jersey, on the occasion of the weekend of the fight against homophobia. “A coach said that homophobia was an opinion. No, it’s a crime, “said Olivier Véran on France 2. “It’s anachronistic: we live in a time today where everyone is free to love each other as they wish, “he said. continued in the program Télématin.
Olivier Véran therefore refers to the players who refused to participate in this 35th day of Ligue 1 marked by the fight against homophobia. Toulouse’s Zakaria Aboukhlal and Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed, for example, both admitted to having refused to play on Sunday so as not to wear this rainbow jersey, and they explained this on social networks.
“A simple message of non-discrimination”
“Given my roots, my culture, the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign, thus confided the Egyptian striker of the Canaries on Twitter. I hope my decision will be respected. “It is not certain that the wish of Mostafa Mohamed, and the other absentees noticed at the weekend, is heard. Guest of the Stade 2 program on Sunday, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra indeed confided that she wanted “sanctions” against each of them, for having thus zapped the LFP’s annual campaign “Gays or heterosexuals, we all wear the same jersey “.
“I deeply regret that we do not have 100% of the players who can find themselves behind this simple message of non-discrimination, indicates the Minister of Sports. It’s essential for everyone to come together on such a basic message of living together. It is the responsibility of the clubs to take sanctions, I think it is necessary. »