Latest news with #MostafaMohamed
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Nemanja Matic slapped with ban for taping over anti-homophobia sign
Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match ban for taping over an anti-homophobia message on his shirt while playing for Lyon. The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder hid the slogan in Lyon's 2-0 win over Angers on May 17, which had been embroidered on his sleeve as part of a campaign by Ligue 1. The campaign, now in its fifth year, usually sees players wear rainbow-coloured symbols on their kit, with banners also displayed in stadiums to raise awareness to the issues surrounding homophobia. However, Matic drew the ire of the league after using white tape to conceal the message and has now been dealt with a two- match ban, as well as a further two matches suspended. This is despite the fact, as things stand, Matic will no longer be a Lyon player come the end, with his contract set to expire and no agreement over an extension being in place. Matic was not the only player to be hit with punishment for taping over the anti-homophobia message, with Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan doing the same. He has also been handed the same suspension. This acts as the latest form of resistance the LGBTQ+ awareness campaign has received over the years, with numerous players having taken issue with the display on religious grounds. Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed refused to take part in the final match of the season due to his beliefs as a Muslim, but escaped any ban. Speaking on why he opted to avoid the initiative, Mohamed wrote on Instagram: 'Living together also means recognising that this diversity can be expressed differently from one person to another,' he wrote on social media. 'I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others, but also the respect we owe ourselves and our beliefs. As for me, there are deep-rooted values tied to my heritage and my faith, which make participating in this initiative difficult.' Former Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara was last year dealt a four-year ban for doing the same as Matic and Hassan in taping over the anti-homophobia logo. It acts as the second time Matic has hit the headlines in recent months after he got into a spat with Man United stopper Andre Onana for branding him 'one of the worst goalkeepers' in the club's history.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Matic given ban for covering anti-homophobia sign
Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match ban after covering an anti-homophobia message on his shirt with Serb, 36, concealed an anti-homophobia display on his sleeve during Lyon's 2-0 win over Angers on 17 anti-homophobia message is part of a Ligue 1 campaign which is now in its fifth year. Typically, players are asked to wear rainbow-coloured symbols while banners are also displayed in former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Matic and Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan, 32, both covered the messages on their sleeves with tape. Ligue 1 issued the pair with two-match bans and a further two matches suspended. Matic's contract with Lyon expires at the end of June and he is yet to agree new terms with the French club. The annual awareness campaign has been met with resistance in recent years, with some players citing religious beliefs for choosing not to take and Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed, 27, withdrew from his side's crunch relegation-decider against Montpellier on the final day of the season."I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others but also the respect we owe to ourselves and our beliefs. For me, there are deep-rooted values linked to my background and my beliefs that make my participation in this initiative difficult," Nantes' Mohamed said on Instagram before the season, the then-Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara, 25, was banned for four matches for taping over an anti-homophobia logo on his Toulouse players missed a match in 2023 with the club saying they had "expressed their disagreement with the association of their image with the rainbow colours representing the LGBT movement".
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ligue 1 players suspended for anti-homophobia campaign opposition
Three Ligue 1 players have been handed suspensions for failing to respect the league's anti-homophobia campaign, which coincided with the final day of the season. Once again, FC Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed refused to take part in the campaign, citing objections. He has not been fined, but his Egyptian compatriot, Ahmed Hassan, did. The Le Havre forward masked the rainbow logo on his shirt during the match, as did Olympique Lyonnais' Nemanja Matić. They did so using tape. Both have received suspensions from the LFP. They have both been handed a two-match ban with a further two-game suspended ban. Advertisement Those will come into effect for the start of the upcoming Ligue 1 campaign. RC Lens' Jonathan Gradit has also been suspended for one game. The Frenchman could be heard making a homophobic slur on the same weekend as the anti-homophobia campaign. He has been handed a one-game ban by the French authorities. GFFN | Luke Entwistle
The Sun
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Former Man Utd and Chelsea star Nemanja Matic slapped with football ban after taping over LGBTQ+ logo
NEMANJA MATIC has received a ban after he covered an LGBTQ+ campaign logo on his kit with tape. The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, who now plays for Ligue 1 club Lyon, covered up the logo on his sleeve for the final game of the season. 4 4 Matic, 36, used tape to cover a rainbow coloured Ligue 1 logo on his Lyon shirt for their final day victory over Angers. The logo was part of Ligue 1's annual campaign against homophobia which sees every club shirt adorned with the rainbow design. Matic wasn't the only player to cover the logo, with Le Havre forward Ahmed Hassan also covering the sleeve design with tape. According to Belgian news outlet HLN, both Matic and Hassan have been handed two-match bans by the French Football Federation as a result of their actions. The pair will also reportedly have to undergo an awareness campaign about homophobia in football. Matic is believed to be a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Hassan is Muslim. A third player, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, has escaped punishment after refusing to play with the logo. Mohamed, who is also a practicing Muslim, chose not to play in the final match of the season rather than covering the logo up. 4 Mohamed cited his 'values' for not playing in Nantes 3-0 win over Montpellier. He wrote on social media: "Living together also means recognising that this diversity can be expressed differently from one person to another. Nemanja Matic brands Andre Onana 'one of worst keepers in Man Utd HISTORY' in savage response to goalie "I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others, but also the respect we owe ourselves and our beliefs. "As for me, there are deep-rooted values tied to my heritage and my faith, which make participating in this initiative difficult." The actions of the Matic, Hassan and Mohamed prompted France's sports minister Marie Basacq to issue a statement after the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign. Barsacq said: "Football has a massive platform, and the [French Football] Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs' and supporters' agenda. 'Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. "Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it. There's a full range of sanctions available, and they must be applied.' Although rare, some players have spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community in the past.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Former Man United star BANNED for taping over pride badge as he refused to endorse anti-homophobia campaign
Former Manchester United star Nemanja Matic has received a ban in France after taping over a LGBTQ + logo during a match. Matic, who now plays for Lyon, has been hit with a two-game ban after covering the rainbow-coloured Ligue 1 logo on his shirt against Angers on the final day of the season. Ligue 1 runs an annual anti-homophobia campaign which asks players to wear the imagery and sees banners display in stadiums. Another player, Le Havre midfielder Ahmed Hassan, has received the same banafter covering his logo. However, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed has not been punished after refusing to take part in the final match of the season. Matic is believed to be an adherent of the Serbian Orthodox Christian church while Mohamed and Hassan are Muslim. Matic and Hassan have also been asked to take part in an awareness campaign about homophobia in football, as per HLN. France's sports minister Marie Barsacq said: 'Football has a huge platform and the federation wants to bring this issue to the attention of clubs and supporters. 'Homophobic insults and behavior are no longer acceptable. Society has developed and football must follow suit.' Ligue 1's initiative, which has now seen five editions, has seen a stir annually with players refusing to take part, typically for reasons of faith.
