Statements made by Egyptian football star Mohamed Aboutrika about campaigns to support homosexuals in the English Premier League sparked widespread controversy in sports circles and among minority rights activists on social media.
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Former Al-Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika
Aboutrika’s speech came on the “BN Sport” channel, during an analytical studio episode of a match in the English Premier League, which brought together the Chelsea and Manchester United teams. Aboutrika referred to the official tours in which the English Premier League supports gay rights between November 27 and December 2, by wearing players supporting gay slogans such as arm ties, pins and shoelaces in rainbow colors.
He said, “Of course, the English Premier League is technically the strongest in the world, but there are phenomena that do not fit our faith and religion,” and he spoke about “the heavenly religions fighting homosexuality.”
The former Al-Ahly star also called on Arab and Muslim players and sports commentators to “confront these campaigns and not participate in them.”
Through social networking sites, it was clear that the popularity enjoyed by the former Al-Ahly star was reflected in the views of the tweeters, but Abu Trika’s comments sparked a wide wave of controversy, especially among human rights groups, as activists criticized the Egyptian player’s statements, describing them as a “hate speech that contributes to… Incitement to marginalized groups.
Tweeters criticized Abu Trika’s description of homosexuality as a “phenomenon”, explaining that “homosexuality began with humanity, but public talk about it is what makes some see it as a phenomenon.”
On the other hand, tweeters said that Abu Trika has the right to have his own opinions, but as a public figure he “should not campaign against vulnerable groups,” and they demanded that he “leave others in peace.”
Aboutrika is one of the most prominent football players in the history of Egypt and has a large audience in the Arab world, and he is currently residing in Qatar.
He won many titles with his club Al-Ahly and his country, before retiring in 2013.
The Egyptian authorities had included Abu Trika’s name on the “terror list” in 2017, alleging his support for the Muslim Brotherhood.
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