Mostafa Mohamed cites faith in skipping Ligue 1’s anti-homophobia initiative
- Omna Taddele
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Nantes striker Mustafa Mohamed has confirmed he will not play in the French Ligue 1 Week 34 game when his side faces already relegated Montpellier due to religious beliefs. The Egyptian striker will not be available for selection as the last game of the league season is used for a campaign against homophobia.
The forward took to his own Instagram to explain why he decided not to take part in this campaign. "Certain deeply rooted values, linked to my origins and my faith, make it difficult for me to take part in this initiative," wrote the 27-year-old former Zamalek player.
He further added that such a decision should be respected. "I express neither rejection nor judgment, only a loyalty to what makes me. Everyone has their own history, culture, and sensibility. Living together also means recognizing that this diversity can be expressed in different ways by different people."
According to L’Équipe, FC Nantes reportedly fined Mohamed a hefty sum of money for not taking part in the initiative. He previously also missed games involving such campaigns during his tenure at Nantes.
Nantes is still fighting relegation and will be without one of their key strikers. Antoine Kombouaré’s side are 15th with 33 points.
Last season, Malian international Mohamed Camara of AS Monaco covered the campaign logo, but his decision led to a four-game suspension and effectively forced him out of the club in the summer.
