Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye was perceived as a ‘hero’ back in his home country of Senegal after his alleged refusal to wear a rainbow-coloured themed kit, reveals Senegalese journalist, Bacary Cisse.
The Senegal International was a surprise omission from PSG’s 4-0 win over Montpellier after he reportedly refused to don the team’s jersey with rainbow design in May.
It was reported by French media last month that Gueye, a devout Muslim, missed the clash because he didn’t want to wear the special shirts in an expression of solidarity to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on Tuesday May 17.
Before then, Mauricio Pochettino had confirmed his absence was due to ‘personal reasons’ and not because of an injury.
While Gueye’s action had caused an outcry in France, the midfielder’s reported stance has made him a ‘hero’ back in his home country of Senegal, according to Sadio Mane’s advisor Cisse
‘It’s a misunderstanding,’ Cisse said, as quoted by RMC Sport. ‘We must not forget that Gueye was born in Senegal. He grew up there, he was educated there.
‘We respect everything that others do, but we don’t follow them in their culture. Culturally, no one would have understood if he had done anything other than what he did. He’s not the only one.
‘Today, Gueye has the total support of all Senegalese, of all Africans. In this case, we must not stigmatize the boy. He cannot justify this gesture. He was perceived as a hero in Senegal, of course. For us, Gueye is a hero,” Cisse added.
