Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic is facing disciplinary action after covering an anti-homophobia logo on his jersey during a Ligue 1 match in France.
On Saturday, 17 May, French football clubs participated in a league-wide initiative to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). As part of the campaign, players wore rainbow-coloured sleeve patches to promote inclusion and raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights in football.
However, Serbian international Matic—now playing for Olympique Lyonnais—chose to cover the logo on his sleeve with a strip of white tape. The move was noticed by fans during Lyon’s 2–0 victory over Angers and was visible in post-match photos he posted to social media.
Matic’s actions appear to echo similar protests in previous seasons. In 2024, then-Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara taped over the same logo and received a four-match ban. Camara also declined to take part in the pre-match photo session where players stood behind a banner supporting the anti-discrimination initiative.
At the time, France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) stated the punishment was for Camara’s “refusal during the season to carry out one or more awareness-raising actions in the fight against homophobia.”
Multiple Players Decline to Support Campaigns
Matic is not alone in refusing to engage with LGBTQ+ awareness initiatives. Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed did not play in Saturday’s match against Montpellier, citing personal and cultural beliefs.
“Everyone carries their own story, culture and sensitivity,” Mohamed was quoted as saying by Metro.
“Living together also means recognising that diversity can be expressed differently depending on the person.
I believe in mutual respect—the respect we owe others, but also the respect we owe to ourselves and our beliefs.
For me, there are deep-rooted values linked to my background and my beliefs that make my participation in this initiative difficult.”
Similar Controversies in the UK
The debate around religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ visibility in sport is not limited to France. In the UK, England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi made headlines earlier in the season for altering his rainbow-coloured captain’s armband with religious messaging.
During a Premier League match against Newcastle United on 30 November, Guehi wrote “I Love Jesus” on the armband. In the following match against Ipswich Town on 2 December, he altered it again to read “Jesus ❤️ You.” Guehi is the son of a minister and has spoken openly about his Christian faith.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy declined to wear the rainbow armband altogether, with the club confirming that his decision was based on his Muslim faith.
These incidents continue to highlight tensions between inclusion campaigns and personal beliefs within professional football.
