Soccer-French soccer anti-homophobia campaign causes row

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Ajaccio - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - May 13, 2023 Players clash from both teams before AC Ajaccio's Thomas Mangani and Paris St Germain's Achraf Hakimi are both are sent off REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - France's top soccer league was caught up in storm on Monday after several players refused to take part in a gesture of support against homophobia at the weekend.

The French Professional League (LFP), the sports' domestic governing body, had called for Ligue 1 players to wear a shirt with a rainbow-coloured number on the back at this weekend's matches ahead of Wednesday's International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.