May 31 – Monaco’s Mali international Mohamed Camara has been banned for four matches for covering up anti-homophobia messages on his shirt.
The French league staged its annual campaign against discrimination during this season’s final round of games with each team wearing a badge featuring the word ‘homophobia’ crossed out.
However, Camara taped over the badge during his team’s 4-0 win over Nantes, and also skipped the pre-match group photo where all players stood before a banner with the same message. The rainbow emblem was also covered up by Camara.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera called for “the strongest sanctions” and now the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has acted accordingly saying they “decided to impose a four-match suspension… after hearing the player Mohamed Camara and taking note of his refusal during the session to carry out one or more awareness-raising actions in the fight against homophobia”.
The Mali Football Federation reacted furiously saying “players are citizens like any others, whose fundamental rights must be protected in all circumstances”.
However, Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro told French media the club backs the LFP’s campaign and added they will discuss the situation with Camara “internally”.
“We take note of the decision of the League which we respect and we will not appeal this decision,” Scuro told AFP.
“Our concern was above all to deal with this situation, to make our club’s position clear on the subject, and to explain to Mo that his behaviour could be different.”
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