The difficult fight against homophobia in French professional clubs, with some players' comments branded scandalous | OneFootball

The LFP is urging clubs to run anti-discrimination workshops, notably on homophobia, yet facilitators describe bruising, closed-door sessions, and some have already stepped back after hostile responses.

According to L'Équipe, one-hour modules for professional squads invite frank discussion of racism and homophobia, delivered behind closed doors by Licra, Foot Ensemble and the Fondation pour le sport inclusif.

Foot Ensemble president Yoann Lemaire says sessions with players bring little joy. He has worked with most Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 squads, excluding PSG, OM, LOSC and Lens, and recounts hostile or openly homophobic exchanges at Nice, Valenciennes and Red Star. He says some clubs allow scandalous remarks and has since focused on academies.

Facilitator Guillaume Buisson says conversations can be tough, especially when players are asked how they would react to a gay team-mate, recalling shocking language in early 2022 workshops. Licra’s Pierre Hock argues that loosening tongues, then challenging contradictions, can move players towards accepting a gay colleague, using comparisons with racist slurs once common in France but now unacceptable.

There are signs of progress, with more players stating they would have no issue with a gay team-mate, and dressing-room behaviour said to be improving. The league attends all sessions and notes notable gains.

Jonathan Clauss spoke up during a tense workshop in Nice, but later warned that efforts can sometimes harden views, and that educating senior pros might come too late.

The fight remains slow. Some players still decline the mid-May initiative against homophobia, prompting calls for clubs to act. The LFP’s disciplinary body has sanctioned incidents on and around the pitch, including Mohamed Camara’s 2024 four-match ban for taping over the rainbow Ligue 1 logo, and 2025 four-match bans, with two suspended, for Ahmed Hassan and Nemanja Matic after masking LGBTI+ colours. Jonathan Gradit received a one-match ban in 2025 for a homophobic insult against Monaco, 4-0.

When players are not on the teamsheet, discipline lies with clubs, so refusers such as Mostafa Mohamed, Idrissa Gueye, Abdou Diallo, Saïd Hamulic, Moussa Diarra and Zakaria Aboukhlal avoided suspensions. Fines have been levied, which Lemaire deems derisory, citing 2,000 euros. The league is considering combining anti-racism, anti-Semitism and anti-homophobia messages into one day.

Source: L'Équipe