Matic given ban for covering anti-homophobia sign

Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match prohibition aft covering an anti-homophobia connection connected his garment pinch tape.

The Serb, 36, concealed an anti-homophobia show connected his sleeve during Lyon's 2-0 triumph complete Angers connected 17 May.

The anti-homophobia connection is portion of a Ligue 1 run which is now successful its 5th year. Typically, players are asked to deterioration rainbow-coloured symbols while banners are besides displayed successful stadiums.

However, erstwhile Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Matic and Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan, 32, some covered nan messages connected their sleeves pinch tape.

Ligue 1 issued nan brace pinch two-match bans and a further 2 matches suspended.

Matic's statement pinch Lyon expires astatine nan extremity of June and he is yet to work together caller position pinch nan French club.

The yearly consciousness run has been met pinch guidance successful caller years, pinch immoderate players citing belief beliefs for choosing not to return part.

Nantes and Egypt guardant Mostafa Mohamed, 27, withdrew from his side's crunch relegation-decider against Montpellier connected nan last time of nan season.

"I judge successful communal respect - nan respect we beryllium others but besides nan respect we beryllium to ourselves and our beliefs. For me, location are deep-rooted values linked to my inheritance and my beliefs that make my information successful this inaugural difficult," Nantes' Mohamed said connected Instagram earlier nan match.

Last season, nan then-Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara, 25, was banned for four matches for taping complete an anti-homophobia logo connected his shirt.

Some Toulouse players missed a lucifer successful 2023 pinch nan nine saying they had "expressed their disagreement pinch nan relation of their image pinch nan rainbow colours representing nan LGBT movement".