LFP move to drop rainbow colours from shirts prompts backlash | OneFootball

The LFP will remove rainbow colours from players’ shirts and scrap its anti-homophobia day, a decision that has triggered widespread criticism.

According to L'Équipe, the league told partner groups on Wednesday and plans to fold racism, antisemitism and homophobia into a single awareness day.

Marine Tondelier, of Les Ecologistes, called the move an unspeakable disgrace and said French football is regressing. Government delegate Mathias Ott warned that rolling back visibility symbols sends a worrying signal and said professional football’s mobilisation remains essential.

Two years ago the LFP dropped rainbow shirt numbers after a minority of players refused to take part, replacing them with a small patch. That change led SOS Homophobie and PanamBoyz & Girlz United, now PanamPride FC, to end partnerships.

Inter-LGBT condemned the latest move as making homophobia less visible and urged the sports minister to act. The ministry did not respond to requests for comment and the FFF declined to comment.

Jean-Bernard Moles, co-president of the FFF’s anti-discrimination committee, said the federation remains engaged and announced a second Pride Tournament at Clairefontaine on 16 May. Variétés Club de France will face a mixed FFF team coached by Olivier Rouyer.

Foot Ensemble backed the LFP’s change. President Yoann Lemaire said the rainbow shirt had value but supports trying another approach, adding his group has delivered more than 250 workshops across over 60 structures and that attitudes are slowly improving.

Source: L'Équipe