French gay soccer team says it was snubbed by Muslim team
By APTuesday, October 6, 2009
French gay soccer team snubbed by Muslim team
PARIS — A French gay soccer team says its members were victims of homophobia when a team of Muslim players refused to play a match against them.
The Paris Foot Gay team says Tuesday it received an e-mail from the Creteil Bebel club canceling a match scheduled for last Sunday.
“Because of the principles of our team, which is a team of devout Muslims, we can’t play against you,” the e-mail said, according to Paris Foot Gay. The e-mail received Saturday said, “Our convictions are much more important than a simple football match.”
Paris Foot Gay said in a statement that it asked the amateur league to sanction Creteil Bebel.
Zahir Belgarbi, identified as a spokesman for Creteil Bebel, told France-Info radio he apologized if “anyone felt upset or hurt.”
