Senegalese Muslim player Idrissa Gueye, who refused to wear rainbow colors for Paris Saint-Germain this week, has been receiving huge support from Muslims all over the world, with people calling for respecting his faith.
“I support Idrissa Gana Gueye. His religious beliefs must be respected,” Senegal’s President Macky Sall wrote on Twitter, CNN reported.
The Senegalese international midfielder missed a Ligue 1 game against Montpellier Saturday during which players were to wear rainbow jerseys in support of the LGBTQ movement. He was absent for “personal reasons” rather than injury, according to coach Mauricio Pochettino.
📚 Read Also: PSG Muslim Player Benched for Refusing to Wear Pro-LGBT Jersey
Gueye also missed a match last year on a day dedicated to the fight against homophobia.
Anger among Muslims maximized after Gueye was summoned by the National Council of Ethics of the French Football Federation (FFF) to explain his alleged boycott of the Saturday game.
Though Gueye did not say why he missed the game, anti-homophobia campaigners say the reason for his absence is clear.
Growing Support
Messages of support for Gueye have been pouring in on social media and from leading figures in politics, the arts and sport.
In Senegal, Sports Minister Matar Ba in a statement on Monday night said: “When you sign (with a club), it’s to play football. It’s not to promote anything or put aside your beliefs.”
Former Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne encouraged Gueye on Twitter.
“Hang in there, Gainde,” he wrote on Tuesday, using the Wolof word for lion — a nickname for the national team’s players — in a post accompanied by Qur’an verses.
📚 Read Also: Transgenderism: What, How & Why?
We Are All Idrissa
Support for Gueye has been maximizing on social media as well, with #WeareallIdrissa hashtag trending.
Palace midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Watford winger Ismaila Sarr also backed midfielder Gueye.
Success is not limited to scoring goals in football
Success is passing the tests in this life.
Expose their hypocrisy and dictatorship when it comes to #FreedomOfSpeech #Wearealldrissa pic.twitter.com/qV70xwbnuz
— Fadel Soliman (@FadelSoliman) May 18, 2022
We stand in support and solidarity with Idrissa. 🔵#Wearealldrissa #كلنا_ادريس_غانا pic.twitter.com/UurTCP6KKm
— Al Hilal SC (@AlHilalSC_) May 18, 2022
we support you@IGanaGueye #كلنا_إدريس_غانا #WeareallIdrissa pic.twitter.com/8nWWKmGFif
— نادي الطائي السعودي (@tai1381) May 18, 2022
Big respect ✊🏿@IGanaGueye #ganagueye
— Pape Mbaye (@papembayee) May 17, 2022
If a non Muslim has a right to choose whether or not to support LGBTQ, why don’t we Muslims have a right to choose? Idriss Gueye did nothing wrong, he has right to choose what he supports, and his choice must be respected. #IdrissaGueye #Wearealldrissa pic.twitter.com/Ih99aOFtve
— F A A R E E S 💫 🇵🇸 (@MFaarees_) May 19, 2022
Just in France :
Insulting prophets,attacking women who wear the hijab and discriminating Muslim=Freedom of speech ✅️
Not showing support to a specific category of people (without saying a single word) = Crossing the lines ❌️#WeareallIdrissa @IGanaGueye #WeareallIdrissa pic.twitter.com/x805vzh3iw
— Murad Tadesse (@MuradTadesse) May 19, 2022