• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Piers Morgan Says Footballers Shouldn’t Be Forced To Wear Rainbow Jerseys To Celebrate LGBTQ Community

Home> Sport

Published 22:48 19 May 2022 GMT+1

Piers Morgan Says Footballers Shouldn’t Be Forced To Wear Rainbow Jerseys To Celebrate LGBTQ Community

The controversial TV host came out in defence of a Muslim footballer, arguing that neither sexuality or religion have a place in the sport.

Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang

Piers Morgan has come out in defence of African footballer Idrissa Gueye, arguing the Muslim footballer should not have to wear the rainbow colours that indicate LGBTIQ+ support if he does not wish to do so.

Gueye, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was the only footballer not to don rainbow colours in support of Tuesday’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (May 17).

In fact, he didn't play the game at all and missed PSG's win over Montpellier.

The Senegalese player was officially touted as not playing the match for 'personal reasons'. 

Advert

And Morgan had an opinion or two about it.

"African midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who is a devout Muslim - strict forms of Islam don’t tolerate homosexuality - didn’t play because he didn’t want to wear the rainbow colours which were first created in the ‘70s as a symbol of pride and tolerance for the gay community," Morgan wrote in an op-ed for The Sun.

"Gueye is entitled to decide whether he wishes to wear rainbow colours.

"He comes from Senegal, where homosexuality is illegal and can result in five years imprisonment, and where 97 per cent f the people, according to a 2013 PEW Global Attitudes Poll, believe homosexuality is a way of life that society shouldn’t accept."

Advert

Rouge Direct, a French association fighting bigotry in sport, has slammed Gueye for refusing to play.

"Homophobia is not an opinion but a crime. The League and PSG must ask Gueye to explain himself and very quickly. And punish him if necessary," they said in a statement, as per The Sun.

President of France LGBT+ Sports Federation Eric Arassus, added: "Idrissa Gueye is a great player, but religion is not a part of the sport. Every player took part except him.

"He should be sanctioned. Gueye’s excuses show that the club [PSG] and League let homophobia happen."

Idrissa Gana.
Independent Photo Agency / Alamy Stock Photo.

Advert

These statements led Morgan to ask: "Did they? Should he? And if religion is not a part of sport, why is sexuality?

He added: "I’ve no idea if Gueye is homophobic or not, but he’s not said anything publicly to suggest he is."

Gueye's decision not to don the rainbow kit comes as Blackpool forward Jake Daniels became the UK's first openly gay male professional footballer. 

​Daniels, 17, is the first male professional footballer in the UK to come out publicly as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

He spoke to Sky Sports about his relief after coming out as gay and expressed his happiness at his brave decision.

Advert

"Since I've come out to my family, my club and my teammates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone. It was impacting my mental health," Daniels said.

Featured Image Credit: Mark Thomas / Alamy Stock Photo. Jean Catuffe/LPS via ZUMA Press

Topics: Football, Piers Morgan, LGBTQ, UK News

Rachel Lang
Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang is a Digital Journalist at LADbible. During her career, she has interviewed Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull in the lead up to the 2016 federal election, ran an editorial campaign on the war in Yemen, and reported on homelessness in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor. She also once wrote a yarn on the cheese and wine version of Fyre Festival.

X

@rlangjournalist

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
14 hours ago
16 hours ago
17 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Arne Slot releases emotional statement after Diogo Jota tragically dies aged 28

    The Liverpool forward and his brother died this morning

    News
  • 14 hours ago

    Jurgen Klopp releases emotional tribute to Diogo Jota after footballer's tragic passing

    He managed Jota at Liverpool for several years

    News
  • 16 hours ago

    Cristiano Ronaldo posts tribute to Portugal teammate Diogo Jota after his death in car crash

    They won the Nations League together for Portugal

    News
  • 17 hours ago

    Liverpool FC release statement after Diogo Jota dies aged 28

    The club confirmed the news in a sad statement this morning

    News
  • Jake Paul threatens to sue Piers Morgan over 'lies' following presenter's brutal response to fight victory
  • Piers Morgan explains why Donald Trump rings him as he returns to GMB after four years
  • Piers Morgan makes request to Susanna Reid as he returns to GMB for first time since dramatically storming off four years ago
  • Piers Morgan calls out Captain Tom’s daughter as she tries to defend decision to build spa in bombshell interview