The National Collective against Homophobia launched a boycott call against Le Mans FC on Thursday. This action follows Wednesday's announcement of Idrissa Gueye's arrival as a new investor in the club.
The collective accuses the club of a 'major ethical drift' by associating with the 36-year-old midfielder. It points out that the player, a 135-cap Senegalese international, avoided playing a Ligue 1 match in May 2022 to not wear the rainbow-coloured anti-homophobia shirt. "Homophobia is not an opinion, it is a crime," the collective said.
The organisation is urging supporters to stop attending matches at the Stade Marie-Marvingt. It also plans to alert the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League and pursue legal action to check the investment's compliance with anti-discrimination charters. This controversy erupts as Le Mans FC sits 9th in Ligue 1 with 6 points after five games. The club's recent form is mixed (WDDLD) as they prepare for a tough away trip to face Paris Saint-Germain on October 10th. The next league match is therefore scheduled in fifteen days.
Read the full report at L'Équipe
