Idrissa Gueye: Senegal president shows support for PSG player

Embroiled in a homophobia row in France, Paris Saint-German footballer Idrissa Gana Gueye has obtained the backing of Senegalese President Macky Sall.

With French golf equipment’ gamers inspired to put on rainbow-colored numbers on the again of their shirts to commemorate World Day Towards Homophobia on Might 17, the 32-year-old Gueye, who’s a religious Muslim, missed PSG’s match in opposition to Montpellier to avoid wearing the shirt, in keeping with French sports activities broadcaster RMC Sport.

PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino, advised a media convention that Gueye was excused from Saturday’s sport for “private causes.”

Nonetheless, the Senegalese president has expressed his help for the midfielder.

“I help Idrissa Gana Gueye. His spiritual convictions have to be revered,” the Senegalese president wrote in a Twitter publish.

Gueye has not commented publicly on the controversy. CNN has made makes an attempt to contact the membership for feedback.

President Sall’s present of help was welcomed by many locals within the Muslim-dominated West African nation the place being in a same-sex relationship is punishable by up to five years in prison, amid a rise within the arrest and prosecution of LGBTQ group members in recent times.

The Senegalese participant was additionally absent throughout the identical commemorative fixture final yr because of sickness, his membership stated on the time, according to RMC.

Gueye has been summoned by the Nationwide Council of Ethics of the French Soccer Federation (FFF) to elucidate his alleged boycott of the Saturday sport, stated RMC Sport.

The 32-year-old’s latest no-show has sparked requires sanctions in opposition to the participant. Rouge Direct, a bunch combating homophobia in sports activities demanded French soccer authorities sanction Gueye.

French politician Valérie Pécresse, additionally desires Gueye to be penalized for not exhibiting solidarity to the LGBTQ group.

“The gamers of a soccer membership, and people of PSG particularly, are figures of identification for our younger individuals. They’ve an obligation to set an instance. A refusal by Idrissa Gana Gueye to hitch the combat in opposition to homophobia couldn’t stay with out sanction!” she tweeted.