Homophobia in football: Idrissa Gueye, an embarrassing absence

Some absences are more noticeable than others. That of Idrissa Gueye on Saturday against Montpellier (4-0), the day when, as for four years, the players of the French championship join the fight against homophobia by wearing a rainbow jersey, n did not go unnoticed. 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.

“He had already done it last year. There is little doubt about his intentions,” explains Bertrand Lambert, president of Panam Boyz and Girlz United, a club open to diversity. Idrissa Gueye did not play last year either on the day when the first division clubs wear the rainbow jersey, claiming at the time to be the victim of “gastroenteritis”. Two absences in quick succession which are somewhat of a task, and which the Parisian club obviously struggles to justify.

“Personal reasons”

On Saturday, the Argentinian coach of Paris SG Mauricio Pochettino had mentioned “personal reasons”, specifying that his player “was not injured”. A source close to the Parisian locker room evokes for his part “an individual choice of the player, he put himself aside”.

Since this match, voices have been raised to denounce what can be interpreted as a refusal to be associated with the defense of LGBT rights. “I regret that he did not participate in this day which is not a promotion of homosexuality but a promotion of living together,” said 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 .”

For the president of the LGBT + Sports Federation, Eric Arassus, the absence of the PSG player is “hidden homophobia”. “It is not tolerable, it is a crime in France, it is repressible by law”, gets carried away the president of the FSGL. And to add: “If Gueye does not feel in a country where tolerance and human rights are respected, then he should not play in France but in another country”.

“Duty to set an example”

“Homophobia is not an opinion but a crime”, reminded him of the Rouge Direct collective which fights against homophobia in sport on Sunday on Twitter. “The LFP (League) and PSG must ask Gana Gueye to explain himself and very quickly. And sanction him if necessary”. The case has even reached the political sphere. Valérie Pécresse, ex-candidate in the presidential election and president of the Ile-de-France region, tried to challenge the Parisian club on Twitter.

“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!”, she posted on the social network.