Whether it is the world of football, politicians or associations fighting against homophobia, the gesture of Idrissa Gueye has been questioned since Saturday.
Like last year, Paris SG player Idrissa Gueye did not play on Saturday during the day dedicated to the fight against homophobia, a new defection which drew criticism to him in France, but also support in his country, Senegal.
The absence of Idrissa Gueye against Montpellier (4-0) on Saturday did not go unnoticed in France, where, for four years, championship players have joined the fight against homophobia in sporting a rainbow jersey.
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Read alsoPSG: Gueye would have missed the match in Montpellier… because of the jersey against homophobia
If the player’s entourage, contacted by AFP, refused to explain the reasons for this absence, they are however clear for associations fighting against homophobia.
Penalty requests
«He had already done it last year. There’s little doubt about his intentions“Explains Bertrand Lambert, president of Panam Boyz and Girlz United, a club open to diversity. Idrissa Gueye also did not play last year, citing gastroenteritis.
On Saturday, Paris SG coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke of “personal reasons“, specifying that his player”was not injured“. A source close to the locker room speaks of “player’s individual choice, he put himself aside».
«I regret that he did not participate in this day which is not a promotion of homosexuality but a promotion of living together», estime Bertrand Lambert. «And in the same way that wearing an armband to fight racism does not change the skin color of the wearer, wearing a rainbow jersey does not change sexuality. It just helps to break down prejudices.» «Homophobia is not an opinion but a crime“Recalled the Rouge Direct collective on Twitter, which fights against homophobia in sport. “The LFP (League) and PSG must ask Gana Gueye to explain himself and very quickly. And sanction it if necessary».
Read alsoPSG: Pécresse calls for sanctions after Gueye’s boycott of wearing a jersey against homophobia
The case has even reached the political sphere. The Minister Delegate for Sports Roxana Maracineanu judged “personally», «regrettable that he did not wish to play“With this jersey, she told the Parisian. “The players of a football club, and those of PSG in particular, are figures of identification for our young people. They have a duty to set an example. A refusal by Idrissa Gana Gueye to join the fight against homophobia could not remain without sanction!“, posted on Twitter Valérie Pécresse, ex-candidate in the presidential election.
PSG radio silence
Contacted by AFP, PSG recalls being “completely committed to the fight against homophobia and discrimination, with Sportitude or SOS Racisme. Our players wore this shirt with pride, the biggest stars, Messi, Neymar or Mbappé, expressing the club’s commitment».
But on the other hand, radio silence on the Gueye case. Will he be sanctioned? Can it be? It seems difficult to imagine that the club sanctions the player, who could then find himself in a complex legal situation in terms of labor law.
The LFP, contacted by AFP, “do not wish to comment“the incident and recalls his”substantive work in this area for four years“, as “the organization of homophobia awareness workshops in clubs and training centers». «Tuesday an auction is organized with the sales of these jerseys for the benefit of LGBT associations“, we clarified.
Bertrand Lambert «regrets that there is no reaction at the highest level of the State, PSG and football authorities. That said, we must not forget that what happened this weekend is quite marginal since there is only one who refused“. In 2019, several players refused to wear a rainbow armband. “There are still resistances, but it is progressing», Summarized by Bertrand Lambert.
In Senegal, where Gueye and his colleagues in the selection are adored, many supports for the PSG player have been posted on social networks. In this 95% Muslim and very practicing country, homosexuality, punishable by a sentence of one to five years in prison, is widely considered as deviance. Writer El Hamidou Kassé declared on Twitter to support Guèye “in the name of the principle of free belief and respect for differences.” Movement “and in a sea“, active in particular in the defense of democracy, “vigorously denounces this demonization of which he (Guèye) is a victim“, in a press release. He calls “the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation, to provide official support to Gana in these difficult times».
SEE ALSO – Homophobia in stadiums: should matches be stopped? (10/09/2019)
