This past weekend, Paris Saint-Germain faced Montpellier Hérault SC, where the squad had the numbers on the back of their kit to fight against the homophobia that many in the LGBTQ+ community face.
However, one player who wasn’t present on the squad was Idrissa Gueye due to his reported refusal to play in the game to avoid wearing the kit, causing many pundits to share their thoughts, including RMC Sport Jérôme Rothen.
Rothen states on Rothen s’ignite that Gueye’s refusal to play highlights the power the players at PSG have to do whatever they like when they please.
“We must all fight discrimination. How can you go in the direction of a player who refuses that? It’s professional misconduct, even worse than that. Do you realize the message sent? I’m not saying that he (Gueye) is homophobic; I’m just saying that he does what he wants,” Rothen said.
🔴🔵 Le gros coup de gueule de Jérôme Rothen sur "l'affaire Gueye" : "Ce club est une véritable serpillère. Où est le président pour taper du poing sur la table et dire que ce que Gueye a fait est inadmissible !" #RMCLive pic.twitter.com/s8rW1AwcmH
— Rothen s'enflamme (@Rothensenflamme) May 16, 2022
“And in this club, everyone does what he wants. (…) If one day a teammate of Gueye comes out, he will refuse to give him a pass? Will he refuse to take a shower with him? But where are we going? This club is a mop. There is no one to wear his cojones and tell us it’s not normal. (…) You have to force him to play. Period.”
RMC Sport also relayed the statement made by PSG regarding this matter with Gueye, who is Muslim, so clear indication as to whether religious beliefs played a role in the decision, only that it was a personal reason.
“The decision taken by Gueye on Saturday is an individual decision. Idrissa Gueye was not in the squad for personal and individual reasons. Paris Saint-Germain has always been keen to fight all forms of discrimination and did so again on Saturday,” the statement said.
