Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Idrissa Gueye reportedly missed his side’s 4-0 win against Montpellier on Saturday because he didn’t want to play in a shirt that had his number in rainbow colours.
Players across France wore the special shirts over the weekend in an expression of solidarity to mark the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on Tuesday May 17.
But the former Everton player Gueye, a devout Muslim, was absent from the match for what his manager Mauricio Pochettino said ‘were personal reasons, but he is not injured’.
Now, as reported by French outlet RMC Sport, the reason behind Gueye’s omission is that he didn’t want to wear a shirt with rainbow colours.
They also add that Gueye missed the equivalent commemorative match on the same weekend last year for what PSG said was gastroenteritis.
The PSG side took to the pitch in the special shirts ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on Tuesday May 17.
One French association tackling homophobia in sport – Rouge Direct – have called for action from the French League and PSG to establish Gueye’s motivation behind missing the game.
‘Homophobia is not an opinion but a crime,’ the body tweeted on Sunday. ‘The LFP (League) and PSG must ask Gana Gueye to explain himself and very quickly. And punish him if necessary.’
They followed that upon Monday by tweeting: ‘We reaffirm our demand: @PSG_inside must be firm and ask for explanations from Idrissa #Gueye to shed light on this case.’
The president of France LGBT+ Sports Federation, Eric Arassus, also had his say on the reports.
He told RMC Sport: ‘Idrissa Gueye is a great player, but religion is not a part of the sport. Every player took part [in rainbow shirt initiative], except him.
‘He should be sanctioned. Gueye’s excuses show that the club [PSG] and League let homophobia happen.’
Gueye, 32, is a devout Muslim and he regularly shares messages about his faith across his social media platforms.
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino said Gueye was absent due to personal reasons and not injury
In many Islamic countries, homosexuality is illegal and even punishable.
In Gueye’s native Senegal, homosexuality can result in five years imprisonment and gay marriage is not legal.
In February in Senegal, there was a protest organised in the capital of Dakhar by ultra-conservative Muslim groups that was attended by thousands, calling for harsher punishments for the LGBTQ community.
In France in 2021, complaints for crimes and offences against the LGBTQ community rose by 28 per cent, according to Le Parisien. French police recorded 3,790 attacks that the publication says were committed ‘due to sexual orientation.’
Gueye is a devout Muslim and often shares messages about his faith across his social media platforms – in some Islamic countries, such as his native Senegal, homosexuality is a crime
Gueye was an Everton player for four seasons before joining PSG for £30million in 2019
Gueye has played for French champions PSG since 2019, joining in a £30million transfer from Everton, where he had been for three years.
He has won three French league titles in Paris and three French Cups, and finished as a runner-up in the Champions League in 2020.
Before moving to Goodison Park, Gueye spent a season with Premier League rivals Villa and played for French side Lille for five years.
He is also a Senegal international and has won 92 caps for his country.
Last week, he was linked with a return to England in the summer transfer window with Tottenham reportedly interested in his signature.
Culled from Daily Mail Uk
