Monaco’s Mohamed Camara Handed Four-Match Ban For Covering Anti-Homophobia Logo

Monaco footballer, Mohamed Camara, has received a four-match ban from the League (LFP) for covering up an anti-homophobia logo on the shirt during a Ligue 1 game, as announced on Thursday.

The LFP said they “decided to impose a four-match suspension… after hearing the player Mohamed Camara and taking note of his refusal during the session to carry out one or more awareness-raising actions in the fight against homophobia”.

During the final game of the season on May 19, Camara chose not to support a French league campaign against homophobia by concealing the logo on the front of his shirt as he played for Monaco against Nantes.

Additionally, he opted out of participating in a group photo where both teams stood behind a banner in support of the LGBTQ community.

Under the disciplinary guidelines of the French Football Federation, the Malian player could have been handed a 10-match suspension.

“We take note of the decision of the League which we respect and we will not appeal this decision,” Monaco’s general manager Thiago Scuro told AFP.

The club had apologized for the incident.

“Mo did this for religious reasons,” Scuro said after the game. “It’s a very sensitive subject at all levels because we also have to respect all religions. But as an organization, we are very sad about this episode and we want to make it clear that we do not support this.”

Camara found the net as Monaco secured a 4-0 victory, finishing as runners-up to champions Paris Saint-Germain.

“Such behavior must be met with the toughest sanctions both for the player but also for his club which allowed him to do it,” France’s sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on May 20.

Nevertheless, Camara gained widespread support in Mali for honoring his personal and religious beliefs.

The Malian Football Federation (FMF) published a statement of support for the player “in the exercise of his freedom of expression”.

“Players are citizens like any other whose fundamental rights must be protected in all circumstances,” said the FMF.

The midfielder, who is set to participate in two matches with the Mali national team in early June, will serve a suspension for the first four Ligue 1 matches of the upcoming season beginning on August 16.