Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has addressed the disciplinary action he received for covering an LGBTQ+ badge on his Lyon jersey. The 36-year-old faced backlash after using tape to conceal the anti-homophobia symbol, which was part of Ligue 1’s initiative promoting inclusivity.
Matic wasn’t alone in his actions—Ahmed Hassan of Le Havre also covered the badge. Both players were handed two-match bans, with an additional two matches suspended, which could be enforced later. Matic’s response has now been made public.
On Friday, a Ligue 1 spokesperson confirmed that Matic had accepted his punishment and agreed to participate in an anti-homophobia awareness campaign within the next six months.
“The player immediately accepted the proposal to be involved in a campaign raising awareness against homophobia in football,” the statement read.
However, Matic’s future with Lyon is unclear, as his contract expires at the end of June. It remains to be seen whether he will still take part in the awareness campaign if he leaves the club, especially if the ban doesn’t transfer to any new team he may join.
This incident is not without precedent. Last season, Monaco’s Mohamed Camara received a four-game ban for similar actions. Additionally, Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed refused to play in his team’s crucial final match of the season due to the league’s anti-homophobia campaign.
Mohamed explained on social media, “I believe in mutual respect—respect for others, but also for ourselves and our beliefs. My personal values make it difficult for me to take part in this initiative.”
