Angry Bayern Munich fans address Noussair Mazraoui with banner


Monday, May 22, 2023 at 5:30 PM• Mart van Mourik • Last update: 19:15

Bayern Munich supporters are not happy with Noussair Mazraoui’s public statement of support for Zakaria Aboukhlal. The Toulouse attacker was taken out of the match squad for the game against FC Nantes because he refused to wear a shirt with numbers in a rainbow pattern. Mazraoui expressed his support for Aboukhlal via Instagram, but that action was not appreciated in the Allianz Arena.

Aboukhlal refused to wear a shirt on which the back numbers have a rainbow pattern, so that he was excluded from the selection once. All clubs in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 wore the shirts in a campaign against homophobia. Aboukhlal explained his decision on social media earlier this week. “First of all, I want to emphasize that I consider every individual to be a full person, regardless of personal preference, religion or background. I very much hope that my decision not to play will be respected, as we all wish to be respected.”

Mazraoui agreed with the words of the former AZ player and addressed him via Instagram. “God bless you, brother,” wrote the Moroccan international, who concluded his message with two hearts, under Aboukhlal’s post. The fans of Bayern also saw the reaction and they were not at all pleased with the words of their right back.

During the lost Bundesliga game against RB Leipzig (1-3), the supporters suddenly showed a banner behind the goal to express their discontent towards the right back. “All colors are beautiful. In Toulouse, Munich and everywhere. Respect our values, Mazraoui,” the fans made clear. President Hasan Salihamidzic fully supports the club’s attitude to homophobia: “I just know that we all stand for it and our club stands behind it. I didn’t get it, by the way, because I was focused on the game.”