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The French Professional League (LFP), the
sports' domestic governing body, had called for Ligue 1 players
to wear a shirt with a rainbow-coloured number on the back at
this weekend's matches ahead of Wednesday's International Day
against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
However, a number of players declined.
The National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) said it
was not up to the players to convey "collective messages". It
was astonished that clubs should ask them to do so, it said in a
statement.
Toulouse left out the players who did not want to wear the
shirt. But the club's Moroccan defender Zakaria Aboukhlal
defended his choice not to take part in the campaign.
"Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to
others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal
beliefs. Hence, I don't believe I am the most suitable person to
participate in this campaign," he wrote on Twitter.
Stade Brestois coach Eric Roy called the gesture "catastrophic",
a comment that drew widespread criticism on social media.
"You can see that there are players who have a problem with it.
Everyone is free to express their opinions. Personally, I have
no problem with it. But there are players who may have a problem
with it," he said.
He also said it was wrong to schedule the campaign at a time
when players were fighting to avoid relegation.
His Stade Rennais counterpart Bruno Genesio said that while he
was against any kind of discrimination, he was "not sure it was
a good idea to organise a day against homophobia".
Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera weighed in on the
controversy in support of the campaign.
"I think it is the responsibility of the clubs to take
sanctions," she said. "During such an operation, which involves
all the clubs on the basic subject of non-discrimination, you
have to show up."
The LFP and the French Footbal Federation (FFF) have not
commented.
At last year's World Cup in Qatar, world governing body FIFA
threatened seven European teams with sanctions if they wore the
"One Love" armband symbolising diversity and tolerance.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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