On Monday, French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra called for “the strongest sanctions” against Mali and Monaco’s Mohamed Camara and his Ligue 1 team for covering up a badge supporting the LGBTQ community on the midfielder’s shirt.
The 24-year-old’s badge was covered in white tape before Monaco’s final league match of the season on Sunday, in which he scored a penalty in a 4-0 home victory over Nantes.
“It is unacceptable behaviour,” Oudéa-Castéra told the French radio station RTL when asked about the possibility of sanctioning the Mali international and his club. “I had the chance to tell the Ligue de Football Professionnel what I thought about it last night and such behaviour must be subject to the strongest sanctions against the player and the club which allowed it to happen.”
Monaco’s coach, Adi Hutter, said the club is fully behind the LGBTQ initiative and Camara’s decision was personal.
“First of all, I would like to say that we, as a club, support the operation organised by the league. For his part, it was a personal initiative. There will be an internal discussion with him about this situation.”
Camara is thought to have covered the bagde since its purpose contradicts his religious convictions as a Muslim.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Egypt and Nantes forward Mostafa Mohammed chose not to play the game because they had the same badge on their shirts.
Mostafa did the same last year and received a fine for refusing to endorse the LGBQT initiatives.
READ MORE: How Manchester City won fourth consecutive EPL title to write history
