Mohamed Camara Suspended for Taping over LGBTQ+ Logo on Jersey During Monaco's Match
May 31, 2024
The French soccer governing body LFP announced Friday that Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara has been suspended for four matches for covering up an LGBTQ+ support logo on his jersey this month.
According to Reuters (h/t ESPN), the LFP released a statement on its decision, saying: "After hearing the player Mohamed Camara, and noting his refusal during the meeting to carry out one or more actions to raise awareness of the fight against homophobia, the Commission decided to impose a four-match suspension."
During Monaco's 4-0 win over Nantes on May 19, Camara noticeably played with two large pieces of white tape covering the LGBTQ+ logo located on the chest of his jersey.
Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro said his club was in support of Ligue 1's pro-LGBTQ+ enterprise before adding: "It was a personal initiative from Mo Camara. We will have this conversation with Mo internally. Internally, we will discuss this situation."
The 24-year-old Camara has spent the past two seasons at Monaco after previously playing for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg.
In the 4-0, season-ending win over Nantes, Camara scored his first and only goal of the season on a penalty kick.
Camara also stars for the Mali national team, and he received support from the Malian Football Federation, which released the following statement: "It is important to remember that players are citizens like any others, whose fundamental rights must be protected in all circumstances."
This is not the first instance of a Ligue 1 player opting not to participate in a show of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Per Reuters (h/t ESPN), multiple Toulouse players refused last year to wear rainbow-colored numbers on their shirts, including defender Zakaria Aboukhlal, who decided against playing in that particular match.
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