Gueye missed the equivalent commemorative match on the same weekend last year
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye reportedly missed PSG’s 4-0 win over Montpellier because he didn’t want to play in a shirt that had his number in rainbow colours.
This weekend, players across France wore special rainbow shirts ahead of the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Tuesday May 17.
However, former Everton man Gueye was absent from the match on Saturday, with manager Mauricio Pochettino saying it was due to ‘personal reasons, but he is not injured’.
PSG midfielder absent against Montpellier
Now, as reported by French outlet RMC Sport, Gueye is said to have missed the Parisians’ thrashing of Montpellier as he didn’t want to wear a shirt with rainbow colours on it.
The report adds that the 32-year-old missed the equivalent commemorative match on the same weekend last year, with PSG stating that it was down to gastroenteritis.
RMC Sport reporting that Gueye's absence was indeed down to his opposition to playing in a shirt with the rainbow flag. https://t.co/fIzSIM3iV6
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 15, 2022
Gueye is a devout Muslim
According to the Daily Mail, Gueye is a devout Muslim and regularly shares messages about his faith on social media.
In Gueye’s native Senegal, homosexuality can result in five years’ imprisonment and gay marriage is not legal.
The Senegal international joined PSG from Everton in 2019 for £30million, and has gone on to win French league titles in Paris and three French Cups.
Gueye has also won 92 caps for his country and was part of the side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in February.
Related links:
- PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi urges UEFA to introduce Super Bowl-style opening ceremony
- Cesc Fabregas tells PSG fans to ‘be grateful’ after they booed Lionel Messi
- Layvin Kurzawa harassed by fans outside PSG training ground
