Controversy in France: the argument of one of the footballers who refused to wear the LGTBI colors and why they sanctioned him

The young forward of Toulouse Zakaria Aboukhlal was another of the footballers who refused to wear the LGTBI colors on the shirts, as most Ligue 1 players did during matchday 35 of the championship, alluding to the World Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (May 17).

Although, like Mostafa Mohamed, the 23-year-old attacker justified himself through his social networks, the club opted for remove him from the team after the information revealed by the French newspaper RMC Sportswho assured that He was the protagonist of a sexist comment.

In the first moment, Toulouse supported Aboukhlal after publishing a statement explaining why he decided not to play the match against Nantes. In it, he stated: I have the highest respect for each individualregardless of your personal preferences, gender, religion or background. Respect is a value that I hold in high esteem. But it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. Therefore, I do not believe that I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign. I sincerely hope that my decision is respected, just as we all want to be treated with respect.”

However, after missing the match against Nantes, the French media RMC Sports warned that the player had been the protagonist of a nasty comment during the celebrations of the consecration in the Cup of France. The medium in question explained that the celebrations were present Laurence Arribagedeputy mayor in charge of Sports, who I had asked for a little silence to the team considering that they were making a lot of noise while she was speaking.

It was at that moment that Aboukhlal replied: “In my house, women don’t talk to men like that”. A comment that went unnoticed in the crowd and to which the same policy preferred not to refer. “Players don’t really like being asked to shut up like that”he told RMC Sportsat the same time that he claimed not to have heard those words.

Anyway, echoing this information, the club did sanction him for that reason, removing him from the team and confirming it through an official statement. “Given the serious denunciations published by RMC Sport against the Toulouse Football Club player, Zakaria Aboukhlal, the club announces that its player will train away from the professional group until further notice, pending the results of an internal investigation. The club will not make any further comments until the conclusion of the latter,” the letter stated.

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