Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Guy has become a "hero" in his country, after he refused to participate with his team in its last match in the French League, to avoid appearing in a shirt that supports gays, as all the teams did in that round.
"Guy was born in Senegal, grew up there and received his education there," says Bakary Cissé, an advisor to Senegalese star Sadio Mane.
He continued in a media interview, "We respect everything others do, but we do not follow them in their culture. Guy has the full support of all Senegalese and Africans. In this case, we should not attack the player and describe him in any capacity.. He cannot explain this move. He's a hero in Senegal. Of course, for us, Guy is a hero."
Crystal Palace star Shekho Kouyaté sparked controversy when he supported his compatriot after he described him as a "real man" on Instagram, and wrote, "We support you with all our hearts brother," but the post was deleted minutes later.
It is noteworthy that the French Football Federation summoned Guy for questioning over his refusal to participate in the Montpellier match last month, in which his teammates wore rainbow-colored jerseys to denounce homophobia.
Guy traveled with his teammates to Montpellier for the match, but coach Mauricio Pochettino at the time justified Guy's absence from the field for "personal reasons".
It is noteworthy that "Guy" missed for the second season in a row the match in which the French clubs wear shirts with rainbow numbers.