Ligue 1's anti-homophobia campaign faces challenges as players like Nemanja Matic and Ahmed Hassan cover up the initiative's symbol on their shirts, leading to potential sanctions. The controversy deepens with Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed opting out of a critical match due to his personal beliefs about the initiative. Lens defender Jonathan Gradit allegedly used homophobic language during a match. French Sports Minister Marie Barsacq has called for strict penalties and emphasized the importance of tackling homophobia in football, advocating for respect and transformation in the sport's culture. The campaign has been active for five years.
Sports minister Marie Barsacq emphasized, "Football has a massive platform, and the [French Football] Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs' and supporters' agenda. Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it."
Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed expressed on Instagram, "I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others, but also the respect we owe to ourselves and our beliefs. For me, there are deep-rooted values linked to my background that make my participation in this initiative difficult."
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