Paris: Muslim football club refuses to play against gays

Paris: Muslim football club refuses to play against gays


A gay football club in a Paris suburb have protested to local league chiefs after being snubbed for a scheduled match by a fellow league side.



Paris Foot Gay (PFG) were set to play fellow Creteil side Bebel, who are composed of mainly Muslim players, but the evening before the match Bebel cried off.


PFG said they received an e-mail from Bebel which said they could not honour the match because it was "against their principles".


"Sorry, but because of the name of your team and in keeping with the principles of the team, which is a team of practising Muslims, we cannot play against you," said the e-mail, according to PFG's co-founder and current president Pascal Brethes.


It added: "Our convictions are stronger than a game of football. Sorry to have informed you so late."



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But an unnamed representative from Creteil Bebel said in a local radio interview they would not back down.


"We're sorry if anyone feels insulted. (But) as a Muslim I still have the right to decide not to play because I don't agree with their philosophy," said.



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Source: AFP (English)

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