Questions posed as Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed once again absent from anti-homophobia gameweek | OneFootball

Nantes centre-forward Mostafa Mohamed (26) is absent from the group called up by Les Canaris head coach Antoine Kombouaré for their final Ligue 1 game this season, which will be played this Sunday evening at Monaco’s Stade Louis-II. The Egypt international is neither suspended nor injured. Nantes have not officially communicated the reasons behind Mohamed’s absence. As reported by L’Equipe, Mohamed’s absence tonight poses questions considering the 34th and final Ligue 1 gameweek is dedicated to the league’s campaign against homophobia.

Last season, Mohamed pulled out at the last minute of Nantes’ crucial away Ligue 1 game against Toulouse, which also coincided with the league’s anti-homophobia gameweek. The Egypt international cited personal reasons to explain his defection. Nantes fined him and the money was sent to a charity fighting homophobia.

This season, the league has controversially toned down its efforts for the anti-homophobia campaign. The rainbow-coloured lettering are replaced by a more discreet rainbow-coloured Ligue 1 badge on the sleeves. The word ‘homophobia’ will be crossed out on every shirt. It appears not every Ligue 1 player wants to be associated with this message, which may be the very reason why those campaigns are needed.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval