As of 11:32 a.m
The match day in France’s first and second football league is characterized by diversity
Quelle: pa/ZUMAPRESS.com/Phil Bryan/News Images
This weekend, football professionals in France will be wearing rainbow jersey numbers. A sign against homophobia. EA Guingamp’s Donatien Gomis refuses. Its president announces talks with the Senegalese.
Dhe jersey numbers of the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé shone rainbow colors in Paris Saint-Germain’s game against AJ Ajaccio on Saturday night. A sign of diversity. EA Guingamp defender Donatien Gomis, on the other hand, has refused to play Sunday’s premier game at FC Sochaux because his club are also taking part in the matchday’s anti-homophobia campaign. A corresponding report from the regional newspaper “Le Telegramme” confirmed Fred Le Grand, President of Guingamp, on Saturday.
The attitude of the Senegalese defender was “noted,” EA said in a statement. President Le Grand will hold talks with 28-year-old Gomis, who has made 20 appearances for Guingamp this season, in the coming week.
All footballers in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 this weekend will wear a jersey with the number flocked in rainbow colors to mark the annual campaign “Homo or straight, we all wear the same shirt”. These shirts are then to be auctioned off in favor of clubs that work for more tolerance in society; including projects such as Foot Ensemble, PanamBoyz&Girlz United and SOS Homophobie.
Support in Senegal for Gueye
Gomis isn’t the first professional to deny the action. In the past two seasons, his compatriot Idrissa Gueye, then under contract with Paris Saint-Germain, had been absent from the day of the action match – officially for “personal reasons”.
The midfielder was asked for an explanation by the French Football Federation’s Ethics Council last year. Back in his native Senegalese, Gueye, who has won 101 caps for his country to date, has received widespread support for his actions. He now plays for Premier League club Everton in England.
