“Jersey Refusal Leads to Punishment for Mustafa Muhammed”
Galatasaray Sends Player on Loan to Nantes, Who Refuses to Wear LGBT Symbol Jersey
Mustafa Muhammed, an Egyptian football player loaned to French team Nantes by Galatasaray, has been fined for refusing to wear a jersey emblazoned with the LGBT+ rainbow flag during a league match against Toulouse. The club released a statement that stated that the player refused to wear the jersey for personal reasons and was subsequently removed from the squad during the 35th week of the league, before the game against Toulouse that ended in a 0-0 draw.
The club also denounced Mustafa Muhammed’s “unprofessional” attitude during Nantes’ fight to remain in the league, and announced that the footballer would be fined, with the amount collected being donated to an LGBT support organization called “SOS Homophobie” that is located in France.
Muhammed himself has said that he did not attend the Toulouse-Nantes match and that he does not wish to discuss the issue at length. However, in a statement made on his social networking site Twitter, the player emphasized that he respects all differences in beliefs but needed to express his own personal beliefs. He explained that due to the significance of his origins, culture, and personal beliefs, he was unable to participate in the campaign. He also expressed hope that his decision would be respected.
Mustafa Muhammed has made 48 appearances across all competitions this season for Nantes, scoring 11 goals and contributing five assists. In addition, the club mentioned that it condemns the threatening messages sent to him and his family before and after the match.
