Egyptian star Mustafa Mohamed, forward for FC Nantes, has stirred controversy once again after announcing his refusal to participate in his team's match against Montpellier, scheduled for next Saturday as part of the final round of the French league, due to a campaign supporting homosexuality organized by the league for this round.

Mustafa Mohamed stated in an official statement published on his Instagram account: "I will not participate in the Nantes vs. Montpellier match next Saturday. I am not comfortable with the idea of speaking publicly, but I feel the need today to clarify my position, without fueling the debate."

He continued: "Everyone carries within them a unique history and culture, and living together means accepting that this diversity can be expressed in different ways according to each individual."

The player affirmed his complete respect for everyone, explaining: "I believe in mutual respect, the respect we should offer to others, but also the respect for ourselves and our beliefs."

He clarified the reason for his stance, saying: "There are deep-rooted values within me related to my origins and faith, which make my participation in this initiative difficult."

Mustafa Mohamed concluded his statement: "This decision is personal and does not mean rejection or judgment of anyone, but is merely an expression of my commitment to what I believe in. I hope my decision will be understood and accepted calmly."

For its part, the French newspaper "L'Équipe" confirmed that FC Nantes decided to impose a financial penalty on Mustafa Mohamed for refusing to participate in the match, and he also missed the team's preparatory camp that began on Thursday.

Coach Antoine Kombouaré had stated in the press conference that Mustafa Mohamed is suffering from some muscular discomfort, but the player's clarification revealed the true reason behind his absence.