French Midfielder ‘Begs’ Players to Show Solidarity for LBGT Community Regardless of Their Beliefs

• French midfielder Valentin Rongier is urging footballers in the French Ligue 1 to stand with the LGBT community
• As part of efforts to combat homophobia, players in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 were asked to wear shirts with rainbow-coloured numbers
• The initiative was to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which takes place on Wednesday (17 May)

Valentin Rongier has urged footballers in the French Ligue 1 to lend their support to the LGBT community.

The captain of Marseille emphasized the importance of putting aside personal beliefs and joining forces in the fight against homophobia.

When discussing the typical controversy surrounding the request for players in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 to don jerseys with rainbow-coloured numbers on the International Day Against Homophobia, the 28-year-old player expressed his viewpoint that the customary resistance stems from a communication challenge.

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"But I also think it's a communication problem. It must be said to these players that wearing this jersey is not parading at Gay Pride," he said, as quoted by Tribuna.

He continued: "It's just to say that we have to fight homophobia because there are injustices, people who are beaten up and killed because they are homosexual. This is 2023. This kind of thing should not happen. We must fight these injustices.

While admitting the complexity of the situation, he reasoned that wearing rainbow-themed shirts during football games is merely a small representation of the broader battle against homophobia.

"Yes, it's difficult to talk about it without creating controversy. But in the locker room [at Marseille] there was no discussion. We know that there is one day a year for the LGBT community. Agreeing or disagreeing with that is one thing, but players are not being asked to march down the street in support. It's just a jersey with a few rainbow colours on it."

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His comments come in the wake of resistance expressed by certain players, including Idrissa Gueye, who was previously with PSG two seasons ago, and now Toulouse star Zakaria Aboukhlal. Both devout Muslims, they believe that the campaign clashes with the principles of Islam, The Guardian reports.

Player fined for rejecting rainbow jersey

Relatedly, Sports Brief reported that Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed will be fined by his club after refusing to play at the weekend in a protest against an anti-homophobia campaign in France's Ligue 1, a source at the struggling side told AFP on Monday.

The source said Mohamed would be punished "financially but would not be suspended from playing". The size of the fine was not specified.

The numbers on shirts of all players in France's top two divisions, as well as armbands worn by captains and officials, were rainbow-coloured as the French league staged a campaign against homophobia.

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