• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Nemanja Matic 'responds' after being banned by Ligue 1 for covering LGBTQ+ badge

Home> Football> Ligue 1

Updated 12:13 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 12:04 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Nemanja Matic 'responds' after being banned by Ligue 1 for covering LGBTQ+ badge

The former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder has been handed a match ban due to his protests.

Ben McCrum

Ben McCrum

Olympique Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has 'responded' to being banned for covering an LGBTQ+ badge on his kit.

When he came on to the pitch as a substitute during Lyon's 2-0 Ligue 1 home win over Angers on May 17, fans noticed that Matic had made a controversial change to his match kit.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea player had put tape over the anti-homophobia badge that all clubs in the French top division showing rainbow-coloured symbols as part of an annual campaign.

Advert

At the same time, Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan, 32, also covered the badge with tape during his side's 3-2 win at Strasbourg.

In response, both men were handed two-game bans with a further two matches suspended, and now Matic has responded to the ban.

Nemanja Matic covered the anti-homophobia badge on his Lyon kit during the Ligue 1 match against Angers. (Image: Getty)
Nemanja Matic covered the anti-homophobia badge on his Lyon kit during the Ligue 1 match against Angers. (Image: Getty)

An official statement from Ligue 1 confirmed that Matic had accepted the ban and had agreed to take part in a campaign to raise awareness against homophobia within the next six months.

Advert

It read: "In addition, the committee proposed to the player -- who immediately accepted at the meeting -- that he take part, within six months, in a campaign to raise awareness of the fight against homophobia in football."

With Matic's contract with Lyon set to expire at the end of June and the 36-year-old yet to agree new terms, it remains unclear when he will serve the ban or undergo the awareness campaign.

Ahead of the final Ligue 1 matchday, Nantes and Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed also protested the anti-homophobia badge as he withdrew from his side's relegation-decider match against Montpellier.

"I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others but also the respect we owe to ourselves and our beliefs," Mohamed said on Instagram before the match.

Advert

"For me, there are deep-rooted values linked to my background and my beliefs that make my participation in this initiative difficult."

Ahmed Hassan has also been handed a match ban. (Image: Getty)
Ahmed Hassan has also been handed a match ban. (Image: Getty)

Although the campaign against homophobia has run in Ligue 1 for five years, it has always seen mixed reception from players with some opting out due to personal or religious reasons for opting out.

However, speaking six years ago former France international Antoine Griezmann supported the campaign, saying: “If a gay player wants to come out, he might not have all the France players with him, but he will have me.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Nemanja Matic, Ligue 1, Football

Ben McCrum
Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career he has interviewed top athletes in MMA including Tom Aspinall and Michael Bisping.

X

@benmcc14

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    ITV forced to apologise TWICE on behalf of Tyson Fury after what he said live-on-air during Soccer Aid

    Fury was interviewed on-air at Old Trafford - with perhaps an expected result...

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Thomas Tuchel told to call up player to his next England squad as fans say already he's outgrown U21 side

    The England boss has been told to promote a talented U21 after his recent performances.

    Football
  • 4 hours ago

    Jack Grealish ‘pranked’ into paying fan’s bill on holiday as TikTok goes viral

    The Man City star has been brutally pranked as his teammates prepare for the Club World Cup

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Trent Alexander-Arnold received two gifts from Real Madrid after signing contract with the club

    Trent Alexander-Arnold received two gifts following his transfer to Real Madrid.

    Football
  • Nemanja Matic faces huge ban for covering LGBTQ+ badge on his Lyon shirt
  • Nemanja Matic leaves fans stunned after violating Man Utd star with brutal comment ahead of Europa League quarter-final
  • Lyon manager handed one of the longest managerial bans in history after furious reaction in Ligue 1 win
  • Six Lyon players are set for transfers if Ligue 1 giants relegated including latest star wonderkid