Moroccan international Noussair Mazraoui is at the center of a controversy. Last Sunday, before the Premier League match against Everton, the 27-year-old reportedly refused to don a rainbow-colored jacket. This garment, sponsored by Adidas, was intended to be a symbol of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
This refusal sparked strong reactions, notably from the Rainbow Devils, a group of Manchester United supporters committed to defending LGBTQ+ rights. In a press release relayed on social networks, the association expressed its disappointment, recalling the work accomplished upstream by the members of the club to organize this action. “This was obviously a big disappointment for the Rainbow Devils, but also for everyone within the club who had worked hard to put this event on,” they said.
Read: Zakaria Aboukhlal dismissed for refusing the rainbow jersey
If the Rainbow Devils say they respect Mazraoui’s personal choice, they deplore that he put his teammates in a delicate situation, preventing them from wearing the jacket. The association is also concerned about the consequences of this incident on club players who may be questioning their sexual orientation. “We are also concerned about the negative consequences this incident could have on players at the club who are struggling with their sexuality. »
This is not the first time that the Moroccan defender, who played for Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich, has been involved in a controversy of this type. Last May, while playing for Bayern, Mazraoui publicly supported his compatriot Zakaria Aboukhlal, a Toulouse FC player, who refused to participate in a similar operation in France. At the time, Bavarian supporters showed their discontent by unfurling a banner in the stadium: “All colors are beautiful. In Toulouse, Munich and everywhere. Respect our values, Mazraoui! »
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