Monaco Midfielder Mohamed Camara Suspended for Covering Up LGBTQ Patch

Mohamed Camara, a midfielder for French soccer club Monaco, has been suspended for four games after covering up an LGBTQ patch on his uniform during a league match. The incident sparked outrage and prompted the French Sports Minister to call for immediate action.

Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara has been suspended for four games by the French soccer league after he covered up an LGBTQ patch on his uniform during the team's final league game earlier this month.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel announced on Thursday that Camara, who is from Mali, would be suspended for four games after he refused to "carry out one or more actions to raise awareness of the fight against homophobia."

During the team's 4-0 win over Nantes on May 19, Camara covered up the patch, which had the word "homophobia" crossed out with an "X," with white tape. He also reportedly did not participate in the team's pre-match group photo where the players stood before a banner with the same message. He also covered a rainbow badge on the jersey's sleeve.

The incident prompted a fierce response from French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who called for immediate action from the league.

"Homophobia is not an opinion, it is a crime. And homophobia kills," she said on Twitter, according to a translation of the post. "Exemplary sanctions must be imposed against Mohamed Camara."

Monaco coach Adi Hutter said after the match that the soccer club supports the initiative but would not comment in detail about Camara's actions.

"For his part, it was a personal initiative. There will be an internal discussion with him about this situation. I will not comment further," he said at the time, via the BBC.

According to the BBC, all teams in Ligue 1 wore the patches on their jerseys during that weekend's matches as part of the league's initiative.

The Malian Football Federation released a statement in support of Camara, adding that "players are citizens like any others, whose fundamental rights must be protected in all circumstances."

The incident has sparked a debate about the role of professional athletes in promoting social justice issues. Some have argued that Camara should have used his platform to support the LGBTQ community, while others have defended his right to express his personal beliefs.

The suspension is a significant punishment for Camara, who is a key player for Monaco. He will miss the first four matches of the 2022-23 season, including the team's opening game against Strasbourg on August 6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.