Leicester City have released a statement regarding the social media post made by midfielder Nampalys Mendy to Paris Saint-Germain's Idrissa Gueye.
PSG's Gueye caused controversy this week when the 32-year-old supposedly refused to participate in a match in which the Ligue 1 side wore a rainbow symbol in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Mendy responded to the incident by posting a story on his personal Instagram account with a picture of Gueye, showing the caption: "De tout cœur avec toi", which translates to "My heart is with you".
The 29-year-old's post in relation to his Senegalese compatriot has since been deleted however, and Mendy's employers have since responded.
A club statement reads: "The club has spoken with Papy and discussed the potential interpretation of the post, which has since been removed. It was not his intention to cause offence or to suggest he shares views that conflict with the club's long-established commitment to equality and inclusion.
"Leicester City Football Club stands firmly as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and is proud of the work it has undertaken in recent years, aimed at helping to create a safe and inclusive environment and educating our people on the importance of allyship.
"Working closely with our Foxes Pride supporter group and other equality stakeholders in the game and throughout our communities, great strides have been made in making Leicester City a football club for everyone. Our commitment to achieving that through ongoing education, action and allyship remains as strong as ever."
The news comes amid an historic week in British football, in which Blackpool youngster Jake Daniels became the first active male professional to come out as gay in Britain in over 30 years.
Matthew Tranter
