Former Manchester United star Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match ban after taping over a Pride badge during Ligue 1's anti-homophobia campaign.
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Ligue 1 ban handed to Lyon's MaticPut tape over anti-homophobia badgeLe Havre midfielder also handed banFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ligue 1 ran their annual anti-homophobia campaign during the last matchday of the season, as has generally been the case, with players wearing pro-LGBTQ+ badges and banners being waved across stadiums. The campaign has been hosted with the aim of reducing the rising homophobia around the world.
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Former United midfielder Matic, who currently plays with Ligue 1 side Lyon, has been handed a two-match ban by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) for putting white tape over the anti-homophobia badge. The midfielder, who is believed to be a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as per The Daily Mail, refused to wear the badge during Lyon's 2-0 win against Angers on the final matchday.
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LFP also handed Le Havre midfielder Ahmed Hassan a two-game ban for refusing to wear the anti-homophobia badge during his side's 3-2 loss to Strasbourg. Meanwhile, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed refused to play in the final matchday altogether to avoid showing his support against hate towards the LGBTQ+ community, but has escaped punishment for the same offence.
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The 36-year-old Serbian will miss Lyon's opening two games of their 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign, while Hassan will also face his ban in the same period. The two players will also have take part in an awareness campaign about homophobia in football, as per the ruling.
