Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara has been hit with a four-match ban for covering the LGBTQ+ logo on his kit.
Camara, who is understood to be a Muslim, covered up the badge on the front of his shirt with tape during Monaco’s 4-0 in their final Ligue 1 game of the season.
Futballnews learnt the French football authorities birthed the initiative of having the LGBT+ logo on the kits of the players on the final matchday as a solidarity gesture towards LGBTQ+ communities.
Camara refused to join the initiative for religious reasons, as per reports.
Reacting to Camara’s stance, The French football league (LFP) released a statement which read:
“After hearing the player Mohamed Camara, and noting his refusal during the meeting to carry out one or more actions to raise awareness of the fight against homophobia, the Commission decided to impose a four-match suspension.
Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro said that the club supports Ligue 1’s LGBTQ+ support campaign and added that discussions will be held with Camara.
Scuro told French media: ‘It was a personal initiative from Mo Camara. We will have this conversation with Mo internally. Internally, we will discuss this situation.’
Before the game, Camara distanced himself from the anti-homophobia shoot by the players.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera had called for penalties for both Camara and Monaco.
”It is unacceptable behaviour,’ she told radio station RTL. ‘I had the chance to tell the Ligue de Professionnel (LFP) what I thought about it and I think such behaviour must be subject to the strongest sanctions against the player and the club which allowed it to happen.’
According to the report, Camara’s home country, Mali, are strongly backing the player following the incident.
