"Idrissa Gueye is the result of a system", according to Ouissem Belgacem

• A former footballer who went through the TFC training center, Ouissem Belgacem intervenes in clubs to fight against homophobia.

• The author of "Farewell my shame", who broke this taboo, returns to the "Ganagate".

  According to several media, PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye did not participate in the match on Saturday in Montpellier, because he did not want to participate in the day against homophobia.

• Ouissem Belgacem is not convinced by this initiative launched three years ago by the LFP, which he equates to a “com coup”.

A year ago, Ouissem Belgacem published his first book,

(Fayard), the paperback version of which will be released on June 1 by Harper Collins.

The 34-year-old Franco-Tunisian, a former resident of the TFC training center, broke the taboo of homophobia in football.

A subject that the controversy of the weekend has necessarily fueled.

According to

and RMC Sport, Idrissa Gueye did not play with PSG on Saturday evening in Montpellier because he did not want to take part in the day to fight against this discrimination.

At the end of the day, this Monday, neither the player, nor the club, nor the LFP, at the origin of the initiative launched in 2019, had reacted officially.

Questioned this Monday by

, Ouissem Belgacem evokes his disappointment at this type of behavior, but also remarks that the approach of the body which governs French professional football is akin to "pinkwashing".

He defends a substantive policy, like his conferences with clubs and companies, and is counting on a documentary being filmed on his work to contribute to changing mentalities.

What is your reaction to this controversy?

If it turned out that Idrissa Gueye did not want to play for religious reasons, I would find that extremely disappointing.

This already proves the limits of this LFP operation, with these flocked jerseys in rainbow colors.

I know that there are plenty of players who wear them just because they have to wear them, but who are not aware of the cause.

We don't see any Instagram posts from players indicating that they are proud to have participated in this day.

I have the impression that it's more of a publicity stunt than education and awareness work with players, the public, coaches...

Gueye's absence against Montpellier linked to the jersey against homophobia via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/uqVwLzVQrd

– 20 Minutes Sport (@20minutesSport) May 15, 2022

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To return to the behavior of Idrissa Gueye, religious reasons are mentioned.

I too am a Muslim and it's always interesting and sad to see that we can carry a religion in such a different way.

For me, Islam is above all a religion of tolerance, peace, love of neighbor, where we should not judge each other.

What brings us all together in the end is the denunciation of injustices.

Today, when you are gay in France, you will clearly suffer from homophobia in all areas of your life.

Football is about living together in theory.

I find it unfortunate that Idrissa Gueye does not feel touched by this cause as a human being, and regrettable that PSG has employees who are not ready to denounce injustice, to fight against it.

In the end, it is a question of humanism.

We are not asking a player to open Gay Pride, simply to provide fairly discreet support to reduce homophobia in France.

Would you be in favor of sanctions against the player if the facts are confirmed, like what Rouge Direct, an association fighting against homophobia in sport, is asking for?

I don't think that's the solution.

It is not because he did not take part in this day that he is homophobic.

We don't know his opinion.

I would like to go and ask him the question as I do in clubs: “Why doesn't this question concern you?

“Do you know that living together is one of the values ​​we want to defend in French sport?

»

There is a notion of education in respect for difference.

By wanting to impose a certain outfit on the 37th day, at the end of the season, we have more the impression that this operation corresponds more to a checkbox than anything else.

Do you mean that the football authorities seek to clear their conscience?

Yes, to be able to say: “look, we are doing something”.

But will this action cause an awakening of conscience and affect people who are homophobic or indifferent to the homosexual cause?

I doubt it, clearly.

Already in 2019, there was this story of rainbow armbands that some captains of Ligue 1 teams did not want to wear...

It is a recurring debate.

We must not attack Idrissa Gueye as an individual.

For me, it is the result of a system.

I would like to send him to spend time in an association working with young LGBT people.

To show that in the end, in France, we are not so far from each other, that we are all the same.

You said recently that homophobia was the blind spot of discrimination.

Does this kind of business confirm it?

Absolutely.

I haven't read many reactions from French football players.

People prefer not to talk about it.

They also know that our society is conditioned by current events.

Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, there will be another subject, the Champions League final which is approaching… Then they will go on vacation and another season will start.

We hunker down, no one speaks, then we'll move on.

What do you think of the many reactions on social networks that defend Gueye?

This is extremely disappointing, but not surprising.

As long as we do not carry out concrete actions, that we do not carry out vast training programs with pro players, supervisors, young people from training centers, we can do the same day every year with the flocked jerseys rainbow, it's not going to get things any further than that.

When you meet young footballers during your club conferences, are you surprised by their reactions?

I still hear very, very homophobic speeches.

Sometimes there are a few lights and that is extremely pleasing.

But I traveled all over France and I heard the same speeches: "two men together, it's disgusting", "gays, I don't like them", while the kid doesn't know any homosexuals... It's frightening.

I'm sure many don't know what the LGBT flag stands for.

Last year I saw a video of a footballer who thought it was about the fight against racism, because there were all the colors...

The issue of homophobia is not specific to football…

No, but with its No. 1 strike force in France, football could be considered a fantastic tool for education.

The players are followed by millions and millions of young people.

If they display beautiful values, in line with what sport and France are supposed to represent, it could have a fantastic influence.

If today Mbappé colors his hair pink, tomorrow I will walk in Paris and see lots of young people with pink hair.

A year after the release of your book, do you see any progress?

I hope I was able to evolve some brains.

The documentary filming since September 2021 is going to be absolutely vital.

I will not be able to go to all the clubs in France.

I hope that the documentary will be made available to all young people in France, to all parents.

It will be a very, very strong educational tool.

Despite all the obstacles that have stood in your way, are you still a football fan?

Yes, a million percent!

I'm also looking for places for the Champions League final, it's really not easy (smile).

Football is my first love, I will never stop loving it.

The sensations I experience with a soccer ball, on a pitch, are incomparable.

But I completely dissociate my sport from the people who make it up.

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