Muslim footballers agree to play gay team

A mainly Muslim non-league French side said they could take on rivals consisting of gay players after all, four days after snubbing them in what the former on Saturday insisted was a “misunderstanding”.

Paris Foot Gay (PFG) were set to play fellow Creteil side Bebel, who are composed of mainly Muslim players last week but Bebel cried off a day beforehand, sending an email in which they regretted they could not honour the match as doing so 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.”
PFG deplored what they saw as a “homophobic” decision.

But today, Bebel director Zahir Belgharbi insisted there had been “a misunderstanding” and sent out a statement through club lawyer Benedicte Puybasset indicating they were indeed ready “to play the match”.