Bleus et Fiers Files Complaints Against Footballers and Clubs Over Homophobia
The Bleus et Fiers association, renowned for its efforts against homophobia in football, has intensified its advocacy by filing complaints against footballers Mohamed Camara, Mostafa Mohamed, and Nabil Bentaleb. The complaints have also been extended to their respective clubs—Monaco, Nantes, and Lille—as well as the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP). This action stems from incidents during the last day of Ligue 1, dedicated to combating homophobia.
During the match on May 19, Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara concealed the logos representing the fight against homophobia on his jersey and avoided the pre-match photo in front of a related panel. After being summoned by the League's disciplinary committee, Camara refused to engage in awareness workshops aimed at combating homophobia and was subsequently handed a four-game suspension—a sanction that Bleus et Fiers deemed inadequate.
Additional complaints were filed against Nantes player Mostafa Mohamed, who, for the second consecutive year, refused to play in the match to avoid wearing a t-shirt with anti-homophobia messages. Lille's Nabil Bentaleb also faced complaints for dodging the anti-homophobia photo opportunity ahead of the match.
The association's grievances extend beyond the players. Monaco, Nantes, and Lille are under scrutiny for their 'absence of strong reactions' and 'complacency.' Furthermore, Bleus et Fiers has filed a complaint against the LFP itself, alleging that the organization failed to report potential criminal behavior exacerbated by sexual orientation or gender identity to the public prosecutor.
- Monaco had earlier issued an apology to the LFP and hinted at possible internal sanctions, creating a ripple in the football community. However, the weakened penalties highlighted by Bleus et Fiers have sparked a broader conversation on the effectiveness of such disciplinary actions.
- The LFP's lapse in addressing these concerns through formal channels has drawn significant criticism from advocacy groups, emphasizing a gap in handling issues related to homophobia in sports at an organizational level.
