'VERY SAD'
AS Monaco forced to apologise after star covered up anti-homophobia badge as he’s slammed for ‘unacceptable behaviour’
An LGBT+ campaign group made their views very clear
FRENCH giants Monaco have issued a public apology after Mohamed Camara covered up an anti-homophobia badge on his shirt.
The incident occurred during the final day of the Ligue 1 season when they beat Nantes 4-0 on Sunday.
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Players from top-flight teams had an anti-homophobia logo on the front of their shirts and posed in front of a banner backing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia.
However, Monaco fans spotted that 24-year-old Mali international Camara stuck two pieces of white tape across the logo on his chest.
And the ex-Red Bull Salzburg midfielder, who scored a penalty in the win, did not pose in the photo with the banner.
Camara’s actions were slammed by French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
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The chief called for the strongest possible actions against both the player and club as he raged: “It is unacceptable behaviour.
“I had the chance to tell the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) what I thought about it last night and I think such behaviour must be subject to the strongest sanctions against the player and the club which allowed it to happen.”
That has led to Monaco’s general manager Thiago Scuro rushing to apologise.
And he claimed that Camara’s actions were due to religious reasons - despite wearing his team’s shorts that have a betting logo on them this term.
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Scuro said: “As an organisation, we support the league.
“I called the CEO of the LFP, Arnaud Rouger, to apologise yesterday morning.
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“Mo has his religious reasons to do what he did. As you can imagine, it is a very sensitive topic to discuss as we have to respect religion.
“We, as a club, are very sad about this episode. We hope to show this and show that we don’t support this. We will manage it internally.
“What happened this year will not happen again. This episode should not scratch the club’s reputation.”
Scuro added: “It doesn’t represent who we are, as AS Monaco. Not afraid of punishment. It could happen but we hope not.
“It doesn’t feel fair to punish the whole organisation but I respect the opinions.
LGBT people face widespread discrimination among the broader population back in Camara’s homeland of Mali with the African nation also outlawing same-sex marriage last year.
LGBT+ campaign group PanamPride Football Club used to formerly partner with Ligue 1 for their anti-homophobia messaging.
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But they have gone in two-footed to slam Camara and the lack of action from the authorities.
A statement from them read: “Forty-eight hours after this carefully considered affront to all victims of homophobic violence, we are still awaiting an apology from the player and a reaction from the LFP. Sanction, although requested by Oudea-Castera, there will be none.”
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