Le Mans announced Wednesday that former PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye has joined its investor group, but should the club ignore his past anti‑homophobia jersey boycott?
The promoted side entered Ligue 1 with a solid start, attracting ex‑Liverpool star Lucas Leiva and Senegal’s Gueye as shareholders. Yet the Senegalese’s backstage entry divides opinion.
At 39, Gueye is now the target of a boycott call from the National Collective against homophobia, racism, antisemitism and all discrimination. In a Thursday statement the coalition condemned what it called a “major ethical lapse” and voiced “deep outrage” over the midfielder’s addition to the ownership. The group urges fans to shun the club and demands Gueye’s removal. In my view, the club risks alienating its supporters.
‘Homophobia isn’t an opinion, it’s a crime,’ the collective warned. By admitting a figure who publicly rejected anti‑discrimination campaigns, Le Mans FC chooses financial cynicism over republican values.
Will Le Mans reconsider its investor roster as pressure mounts, or will it stand firm and face continued protests?
The collective points to the former PSG star’s repeated refusals to join LFP‑led anti‑homophobia drives, citing past controversies such as his rejection of the rainbow‑striped jersey on designated Ligue 1 matchdays.
Gueye, for instance, skipped PSG’s May 2022 trip to Montpellier on matchday 37. The Paris club later clarified the decision was his personal choice and distanced itself from it.