Several Moroccan footballers are expressing their support for their teammate Zakaria Aboukhlal following his statement explaining why he refused to wear a pride jersey on Sunday in the Ligue 1 match against Nantes.
On Sunday, Aboukhlal and several other Toulouse FC players refused to wear the clubs’ kits carrying rainbow colors that reflect support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Responding to criticism received, the Moroccan player issued a statement underscoring that he holds the “highest regard for every individual, regardless of their personal preferences, gender, religion or background.”
“This is a principle that cannot be emphasized enough,” he adds.
Several Moroccan players have reacted to the statement, commenting and expressing their support for the player.
Atlas Lions Hakim Ziyech and Bilal El Khannous commented with heart emojis, showcasing their support.
In the same comment thread, Noussair Mezzraoui commented “Allahouma bareek brother.”
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A post shared by Zakaria Aboukhlal (@zakariaaboukhlal)
In the post, Aboukhlal emphasized the importance of having his personal beliefs taken into account.
“Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. Hence, I don’t believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign,” he explained.
Aboukhlal called on his fans and followers to respect his decision just “as we all desire to be treated with respect.”
On Sunday, four other Toulouse players told their coach Philippe Montanier about their refusal to participate in the game, including Moussa Diarra, Fares Chaibi, Logan Costa, and Said Hamulic.
La Depeche du Midi said that the club attempted to dissuade some of the players to participate in the match, with Aboukhlal and Hamulic “firmly” refusing to take part.
