May 15, (THEWILL) – Nantes forward, Mostafa Mohamed, is set to be fined by his club for his refusal to participate in an anti-homophobia campaign in France’s Ligue 1.
The Egyptian striker will not be suspended from playing, but will face a financial penalty, although the amount of the fine has not been disclosed. Mohamed declined to participate in his team’s 0-0 draw against Toulouse on Sunday due to the rainbow-coloured numbers on the players’ shirts and the armbands worn by captains and officials.
In a post on Twitter, the 25-year-old, who is Muslim, explained his decision not to participate in the campaign, saying: “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.”
Several other players, including Toulouse winger Zakaria Aboukhlal, a Moroccan international, also refused to take part in the campaign and consequently missed their team’s games over the weekend.
Despite the controversy surrounding the campaign, the shirts worn during the campaign will be auctioned, with the proceeds going to three charities involved in the fight against LGBTQ discrimination. French government spokesman Olivier Veran criticised the players who refused to take part in the campaign, describing their actions as “rubbish” and “anachronistic”.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
