Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match suspension by French football authorities for concealing an LGBTQ+ rainbow logo on his Lyon shirt.
The Serbian international covered the specially designed badge during Lyon's final match of the season against Angers.
The incident occurred during Ligue 1's annual anti-homophobia campaign, which requires players to wear rainbow imagery on their kits.
Matic, who helped secure Lyon's Europa League qualification with a 2-0 victory, appeared to place white tape over the rainbow-coloured league logo.
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|Nemanja Matic covered up the rainbow logo on his shirt with white tape
The 36-year-old, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea before joining United, moved to Lyon in 2024.
Le Havre midfielder Ahmed Hassan received identical sanctions after similarly covering the rainbow logo during the campaign.
Both players must now participate in an awareness programme addressing homophobia in football as part of their punishment.
The disciplinary measures mean Matic will miss the opening two matches of next season's campaign.
Hassan faces the same sporting consequences for his actions.
Whilst Matic and Hassan face suspensions, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed escaped punishment despite refusing to participate in the final match of the season.
Mohamed cited his "deep-rooted values" as justification for his absence, stating that his heritage and faith made "participating in this initiative difficult."
Matic, a practising member of the Serbian Orthodox Church who married and baptised his children within the faith, joins a growing list of players who have resisted the campaign on religious grounds.
Hassan is Muslim, as is Mohamed who avoided sanctions.
The anti-homophobia initiative, now in its fifth year, features redesigned rainbow badges and stadium-wide messaging.
Nemanja Matic's team-mates did go through with the campaign
Players wear specially created shirts bearing badges with "Homophobia Football" text, where "homophobia" is symbolically crossed out.
The campaign has sparked annual controversy, with various players declining participation citing religious convictions.
Some footballers have found alternative approaches, such as Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who wrote "I love Jesus" on his Rainbow Laces armbands this season.
French sports minister Marie Barsacq defended the campaign, declaring that "homophobic insults and behavior are no longer acceptable" and that "society has developed and football must follow suit."
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The league's disciplinary commission has issued 107 fines totalling €229,000 this season, alongside three stand or stadium closures for discriminatory chanting and banners.
Referees have interrupted matches due to homophobic chanting, whilst giant rainbow banners cover centre circles before kick-off.
French law provides for imprisonment up to one year and fines of €45,000 for public anti-gay insults.
The league tracks incidents through match delegates and a dedicated reporting platform, demonstrating France's increasingly robust stance against discrimination in football.