Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye reportedly missed his side's 4-0 win
against Montpellier on Saturday because he didn't want to play in a shirt that had his
number in rainbow colours.
Players across France wore the special shirts over the
weekend in an expression of solidarity to mark the upcoming International Day Against
Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on Tuesday May 17.
But the former Everton and
Aston Villa player Gueye, a devout Muslim, was absent from the match for what his
manager Mauricio Pochettino said 'were personal reasons, but he is not injured'.
Now,
as reported by French outlet RMC Sport, the reason behind Gueye's omission is that he
didn't want to wear a shirt with rainbow colours.
They also add that Gueye missed the
equivalent commemorative match on the same weekend last year for what PSG said was
gastroenteritis.
Sportsmail has contacted Gueye's representatives for comment.
Idrissa
Gueye reportedly missed PSG's 4-0 win over Montpellier because he didn't want to wear a
shirt with rainbow colours on
The PSG side took to the pitch in the special shirts
ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on Tuesday
May 17
One French association tackling homophobia in sport - Rouge Direct - have called
for action from the French League and PSG to establish Gueye's motivation behind
missing the game.
'Homophobia is not an opinion but a crime,' the body tweeted on
Sunday. 'The LFP (League) and PSG must ask Gana Gueye to explain himself and very
quickly. And punish him if necessary.'
They followed that upon Monday by tweeting: 'We
reaffirm our demand: @PSG_inside must be firm and ask for explanations from Idrissa
#Gueye to shed light on this case.'
The president of France LGBT+ Sports Federation,
Eric Arassus, also had his say on the reports.
He told RMC Sport: 'Idrissa Gueye is a
great player, but religion is not a part of the sport. Every player took part [in
rainbow shirt initiative], except him.
'He should be sanctioned. Gueye’s excuses show
that the club [PSG] and League let homophobia happen.'
Gueye, 32, is a devout Muslim
and he regularly shares messages about his faith across his social media platforms.
PSG
boss Mauricio Pochettino said Gueye was absent due to personal reasons and not
injury
In some Islamic countries, homosexuality is illegal and even punishable with the
death penalty.
In Gueye's native Senegal, homosexuality can result in five years
imprisonment and gay marriage is not legal.
In February in Senegal, there was a protest
organised in the capital of Dakhar by ultra-conservative Muslim groups that was
attended by thousands, calling for harsher punishments for the LGBTQ community.
In
France in 2024, complaints for crimes and offences against the LGBTQ community rose by
28 per cent, according to Le Parisien. French police recorded 3,790 attacks that the
publication says were committed 'due to sexual orientation'.
Over the weekend, The Sun
reported that a gay teenage player in The Championship is about to come out in a
television interview. It would make him Britain's only openly gay professional
footballer. The player is reportedly 'very relaxed' about his sexuality and has the
full backing of his teammates.
The last British pro to come out was Justin Fashanu in
1990, before he tragically took his own life eight years later, aged 37.
Josh Cavallo,
22, who plays for the Australian team Adelaide United, came out as gay last year, and
remains the only out pro in the world.
Gueye is a devout Muslim and often shares
messages about his faith across his social media platforms - in some Islamic countries,
such as his native Senegal, homosexuality is a crime
Gueye was an Everton player for
four seasons before joining PSG for £30million in 2024
Gueye has played for French
champions PSG since 2024, joining in a £30million transfer from Everton, where he had
been for three years.
He has won three French league titles in Paris and three French
Cups, and finished as a runner-up in the Champions League in 2024.
Before moving to
Goodison Park, Gueye spent a season with Premier League rivals Villa and played for
French side Lille for five years.
He is also a Senegal international and has won 92
caps for his country.
Last week, he was linked with a return to England in the summer
transfer window with Tottenham reportedly interested in his signature.
