Nemanja Matic has been given a four-match ban after covering an anti-homophobia logo on his shirt while playing for Lyon.
The incident occurred when Lyon beat Angers 2-0 in the 34th and final Ligue 1 matchday last month. For International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on May 17, French clubs customised their kits with a rainbow patch on their shirt sleeves.
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Matic, 36, came on as a substitute for Tanner Tessman in the 69th minute of the game with a piece of white material appearing to cover the campaign’s rainbow logo. Another symbol — the word ‘homophobia’ in French crossed out with a red line and ‘football’ underneath it — was not covered.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which governs French football, announced on Wednesday that Matic had been given a two-match ban with a further two matches suspended. Matic’s Lyon contract expires at the end of this month.
It was similarly widely reported that Le Havre’s Ahmed Hassan also covered up the logo when his side faced Strasbourg. The LFP also announced Hassan had received the same punishment as Matic. Both players, the LFP said, agreed in their hearings to participate “in an awareness-raising campaign on the fight against homophobia in football” within six months.
“Football has a massive platform, and the (French Football) Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs’ and supporters’ agenda,” France’s sports minister Marie Barsacq said after the incidents, via Reuters.
“Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it. There’s a full range of sanctions available, and they must be applied.”
Last year, Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara was banned for four matches by the LFP after appearing to place white tape over an anti-homophobia message on his shirt.
Ligue 1’s campaign against homophobia has been running since 2021 and aims to increase awareness around LGBTQ+ rights in football.
(Photo: Olivier Chassignole/AFP via Getty Images)
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