Monaco footballer Mohamed Camara has been banned for four matches for pasting an anti-homophobia logo on his shirt in a Ligue 1 game, the French League (LFP) announced on Thursday.
The LFP stated that it “decided to impose a four-game suspension… after listening to the player Mohamed Camara and taking note of his refusal during the session to carry out one or more awareness-raising actions in the fight against homophobia”.
Camara chose not to support the French league’s campaign against homophobia, hiding the logo on the front of his shirt while playing for Monaco against Nantes in the final game of the season on May 19.
The 24-year-old also opted out of a group photo in which both teams were standing behind a banner supporting the LGBTQ community.
The Malian player could have received a ten-game ban under the French Football Federation’s disciplinary scale.
“We take note of the League’s decision which we respect and we will not appeal this decision,” Monaco general director Thiago Scuro told AFP.
The Riviera team, which had apologized and indicated possible internal sanctions for the player, did not meet Camara before the commission.
“Our concern was above all to deal with this situation, to make our club’s position on the matter clear and to explain to Mo (Camara) that his behavior could be different,” continued Scuro.
“Monaco supports the League’s action, the fight against discrimination, the action against homophobia, of course for us, of course for Mo as well.”
After the game in early May, Scuro said Camara did not participate in the campaign “for religious reasons.”
“It is a very delicate subject at all levels, because we also have to respect all religions. But as an organization we are very saddened by this episode and want to make it clear that we do not support this,” he added.
Camara scored in the match and Monaco, runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain, won 4-0.
“Such behavior must be met with the toughest sanctions, both for the player and for his club, which allowed him to do it,” said French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on May 20.
However, in Mali, Camara gained widespread support for respecting his own personal and religious convictions.
The Malian Football Federation (FMF) published a statement of support for the player “in exercising his freedom of expression”.
“Players are citizens like any other, whose fundamental rights must be protected in all circumstances,” stated the FMF.
The midfielder, who could play two matches for Mali at the beginning of June, will be suspended for the first four Ligue 1 matches next season, starting on August 16.
lh/ea/nf
