Five Muslim footballers in France refused to play in rainbow-colored shirts on Sunday in protest against homophobia.
The players, who play for Toulouse FC and Nantes, cited religious views as the reason for their refusal.
The Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches over the weekend were dedicated to the league’s initiative against homophobia, with the numbers on the back of players’ shirts in rainbow colors.
However, the five Muslim players refused to wear the rainbow-colored shirts.
One of the players, Mostafa Mohamed, who also plays for the Egyptian national team, tweeted: “I don’t want to argue at all but I have to state my position.”
“I respect all differences. I respect all beliefs and convictions. This respect extends to others but also includes respect for my personal beliefs,” he added.
“Given my roots, my culture, and the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign. I hope that my decision will be respected, as well as my wish not to argue about this and that everyone is treated with respect.”
Another player, Zakaria Aboukhlal, explained that he “made the decision not to take part in today’s game.”
“First and foremost, I want to emphasize that I hold the highest regard for every individual regardless of their personal preferences, gender, religion, or background. This is a principle that cannot be emphasized enough,” Aboukhlal said.
“Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own beliefs. Hence, I don’t believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign.”
Toulouse FC said in a statement that it respected the individual choices of its players, but that it had chosen to exclude the five players from the game.
The club said: “Some players of the professional squad have expressed their disagreement regarding the association of their image with the rainbow colors representing the LGBT movement.”
“Respecting the individual choices of its players, and after numerous exchanges, the Toulouse Football Club has chosen to exclude these players from the game,” the Ligue 1 club added.
The incident has sparked a debate about the role of religion in sports and the importance of fighting homophobia.
Some people have criticized the players for their decision, saying that it is discriminatory and that it sends a message that homophobia is acceptable.
Others have defended the players, saying that they are simply expressing their religious beliefs and that they should not be forced to participate in a campaign that they disagree with.
The debate is likely to continue, but it is clear that this incident has raised important questions about the role of religion in sports and the importance of fighting homophobia.
Here are some additional details that may make the article more viral on Google Discover:
- The players involved are all Muslim, and their decision has been met with mixed reactions from the public.
- The incident has sparked a debate about the role of religion in sports and the importance of fighting homophobia.
- The players have said that they respect all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, but that they cannot participate in a campaign that goes against their religious beliefs.
- The club has said that it respects the players’ decision, but that it also has a responsibility to promote equality and inclusion.
- The incident is likely to continue to be debated in the coming days and weeks.
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