Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara has been handed a four-match ban by the French football league (LFP) after he covered up an anti-homophobia message on his shirt during a Ligue 1 match. Camara used white tape to conceal the symbol of 'homophobie' (homophobia) with a red cross through it on his shirt, breaching league regulations.

During the final Ligue 1 match of the season against Nantes, Monaco players donned shirts with the anti-homophobia symbol. However, the Malian international not only covered up the symbol on his shirt but also did not participate in a pre-match photo in support of the international day against homophobia, biphobia, interphobia, and transphobia.

Despite Camara scoring a penalty in the 4-0 victory, the LFP confirmed his suspension for four games. In a statement, the league declared that they imposed the sanction after a hearing with Camara where he refused to carry out actions aimed at raising awareness against homophobia.

The decision comes following a call by French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera for the imposition of the "strongest sanctions" against the player. Oudea-Castera labeled Camara's behavior as "unacceptable" and emphasized the need for both the player and the club to face consequences for allowing such actions.

Monaco's general manager, Thiago Scuro, expressed the club's support for the LFP's action and personally apologized to LFP director general Arnaud Rouger on behalf of the club. Scuro stated that Camara's decision was driven by religious reasons, but the club disavowed his actions and emphasized that they do not endorse such behavior.

Monaco head coach Adi Hutter acknowledged the club's support for the league's campaign against homophobia, distancing himself from Camara's personal initiative. It was confirmed that there would be an internal discussion with the player regarding the situation.

The LFP's initiative to promote inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community has seen clubs customizing their shirts with the rainbow symbol for one matchday per season in the past three years. Last year, managers wore rainbow armbands, and players wore shirts featuring rainbow colors, with the proceeds from auctions going to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination charities. This season, the shirts featured rainbow-colored numbers on the back.

While the campaign has generally been well-received, there have been instances of resistance. Last season, Toulouse left out some players from their matchday squad due to disagreement over participating in the anti-homophobia campaign. Additionally, PSG's Idrissa Gueye missed a match after players were asked to wear shirts with rainbow numbers, facing criticism from political figures in France but garnering support in his home country of Senegal, where homosexuality is illegal.

The LFP's decision to sanction Camara highlights the importance of promoting inclusivity and combating discrimination in football. As the sport aims to be more welcoming and diverse, actions that hinder these efforts are being met with strong repercussions by governing bodies.

Note: The article has been written based solely on the information provided, without additional details or opinions.