A Russian orthodox priest has denounced the 2014 World Cup as a “homosexual abomination.”

Writing in his column on the Christian website Russian People's Line, Priest Alexander Shumsky lamented the brightly colored shoes worn by some players participating in the tournament, The Moscow Times reported.

Players wearing green, yellow, pink or blue shoes help promote the “gay rainbow,” Shumsky said.

“Wearing pink or blue shoes, [the players] might as well wear women's panties or a bra,” he said.

“The liberal ideology of globalism clearly wants to oppose Christianity with football. I'm sure of it,” he added. “Therefore I am glad that the Russian players have failed and, by the grace of God, no longer participate in this homosexual abomination.”

Anti-gay rhetoric is high in Russia, where lawmakers last year approved a controversial law which prohibits the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors.