A team of mostly Muslim soccer players
has been permanently banned from a local Paris league after refusing
to play a rival team of gay players, the AFP reported.
“The Creteil Bebel team is excluded
from the Leisure Football Commission for refusing a match and
[making] discriminatory comments,” the commission said in a
statement Wednesday.
In an October 3 email, Creteil Bebel
withdrew from a match against fellow rival Paris Foot Gay (PFG).
“Sorry, but because of the name of
your team and in keeping with the principles of the team, which is a
team of practicing Muslims, we cannot play against you,” the email
said.
“Our convictions are stronger than a
game of football.”
The team rejected claims they were
homophobic, saying there had been a “misunderstanding,” but
refused a second invitation to play against PFG.
“It's a permanent exclusion, they
will never be reinstated,” league president Jacques Stouvenel said.