Mali Midfielder Mohamed Camara Suspended for Covering Anti-Homophobia Message

PARIS, France — Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara received a four-game suspension from the French league after obscuring an anti-homophobia message on the team's shirt during the club's final league game of the season.

The French league's disciplinary committee announced late Thursday (May 30) that it had sanctioned the Mali international for his refusal to "carry out one or more actions to raise awareness of the fight against homophobia."

During the weekend’s final round of the season, each team was required to wear a badge featuring the word “homophobia” crossed out as part of the French league's annual campaign against discrimination. Camara taped over the badge during Monaco’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.

French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra labeled Camara’s actions "unacceptable" and called for "firm sanctions" against both the player and the club.

Monaco coach Adi Hütter stated after the game that the club supports the league’s initiative, noting that Camara’s actions were “a personal choice.”

This marked the fourth consecutive season that professional clubs in France were invited to use rainbow-colored numbers, armbands, or patches on their shirts to support the LGBTQ movement. Each year, similar controversies have arisen.

In 2022, Senegalese-born Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, then playing for PSG, refused to participate in a game requiring players to wear shirts with rainbow-colored numbers. Senegal’s President Macky Sall publicly supported Gueye, stating that “his religious convictions must be respected.”

Last year, Nantes fined Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed for similar reasons. Mohamed did not play in Sunday’s game, and Camara also did not participate in the equivalent game last season.

The French league continues to grapple with balancing its anti-discrimination initiatives with the personal beliefs of its players, as demonstrated by these recurring incidents.