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:
This post was last modified on May 17, 2023 1:53 pm
The typically deserted mountains of Saudi Arabia's Makkah Province have transformed into a lush green…
A woman in Euless has been formally charged after attempting to drown a young girl…
Outside the mosque, Pope Francis kisses Imam Nasaruddin Umar’s hand outside Jakarta Mosque, calls for…
Short answer: The birthdate of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is disputed.
It is the third month in the Islamic hijri calendar.
View Comments
Sibgatallah wa mann ahsanu minallahe sibgah wa nahnu lahu aabedoon