the Rouge Direct collective evokes its “sadness” and its “anger” after the refusal of football players to wear the rainbow jersey

“It inspires us with a lot of sadness and a lot of anger”said Sunday May 14 on franceinfo Julien Pontes, spokesperson for the collective against homophobia in sport Rouge Direct, after the refusal of several professional football players, in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, to wear the rainbow jersey -ciel on the occasion of the annual campaign “Gays or heteros, we all wear the same shirt”.

This Saturday, the Senegalese defender of Guingamp Donatien Gomis preferred to forfeit the Ligue 2 match at Sochaux so as not to participate in the campaign. On Sunday, it was the Egyptian striker of FC Nantes Mostafa Mohamed who refused to wear the rainbow flocked jersey. “This operation is ineffective”estimated Julien Pontes, “because it has been carried out for several years and these manifestations of homophobia have never been so serious and important”.

“Change method and go more frankly”

The spokesperson for Rouge Direct even mentions a “fashion” of these rainbow jerseys and calls for “change the method and go more frankly”pointing in particular to the direct responsibility of professional clubs and the Professional Football League (LFP). “The LFP remains silent, the clubs are silent”denounces Julien Pontes. “The LFP and the clubs must be very clear about what it means not to wear this jersey. Why does the LFP not sanction homophobia?”he asks. “French football is a big sick body and homophobia is one of the main sources of infection. We treat this infection with rainbow glitter, it’s not serious”he finished.