Lamine Yamal, the runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, has generated great controversy in the world of football after his recent statements about “Pride Night”, an annual event that celebrates diversity and inclusion in football. The young forward, who has earned a place in the sport’s elite with his outstanding performance during the year, has made it clear that he will not attend the celebration, which has unleashed a wave of criticism and reactions on social networks, as well as in the media.
In a recent interview, Yamal expressed his firm stance on the matter: “This sport should focus only on performance on the field, without getting involved in political issues or social movements.” This statement, apparently innocent, has been seen by many as a way to ignore the social and political struggles that affect football and society in general.
“Pride Night”, which has become a key event for the visibility of the LGBT+ community within sport, has been supported by various federations and players over the years. This event not only celebrates diversity in football, but also aims to send a message of inclusion and respect towards all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite his good intentions, Yamal’s position on the issue has sparked great controversy, and many have interpreted his words as a refusal to support the rights of the LGBT+ community.
What has surprised the football community and fans even more is that FIFA, the governing body of world football, was quick to react to these statements. Just a few hours after Yamal made his opinion public, FIFA issued a statement announcing a sanction for the player. The reason for the sanction was that his words negatively affected the sponsorships of the LGBT+ community in football, a sector that has been key in the fight for inclusion and visibility within sport.
The FIFA statement highlighted that football is a sport that must promote inclusion and diversity, and that Yamal’s statements contradicted these principles. The sanction, although exact details about its nature were not specified, is understood as an attempt to protect the integrity of the values promoted by the organization in relation to equality and respect for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Reactions to the sanction have been mixed. While some defenders of freedom of expression consider that Yamal has every right to express his opinion on the issues he considers relevant, others have pointed out that, being a renowned public figure, he has a social responsibility beyond his performance on the playing field. Football, being one of the most popular and followed sports in the world, has a significant influence on society, and the words of its icons can have a considerable impact on young people and public opinion in general.
This incident has also highlighted the growing tension between football and social and political issues. Over recent years, there has been increasing talk about the need for sport to not only focus on competition, but also on the values it can convey through its global reach. Events like “Pride Night” are just one example of how football has tried to advance inclusion and acceptance of diversities.
However, the stance of some players like Yamal highlights a division around this issue. For some, football should be a space free of political and social issues, while for others, it is essential to use the platform that the sport provides to advocate for change and social justice. In this context, the sanction imposed by FIFA could be seen as an attempt to balance both positions, while protecting the organization’s global image and reaffirming its commitment to the values of equality and respect.
Despite the controversy, it is important to highlight that Yamal’s words are not isolated. Other footballers have expressed similar opinions in the past, and it is not uncommon to find sports figures who prefer to keep their political and social stances off the field of play. However, Yamal’s visibility, especially after his 2025 Ballon d’Or success, has turned his statements into a topic of wider debate.
In conclusion, the incident involving Lamine Yamal and FIFA’s response underlines the complex relationship between sport and social movements. Football, as a global phenomenon, faces the challenge of balancing the purity of sporting performance with the need to be a vehicle of inclusion and respect for all people. Meanwhile, the future of these types of events and the players’ positions on social issues remain a topic of constant discussion, which will probably give a lot to talk about in the coming years.
