Just like in Brazil, Georgia, a small country in Eastern Europe, has recorded high rates of crimes against LGBT people in recent years. As a way of opposing these indices, the player Guram Kashi, captain of the national team and Vitesse-HOL, wore a captain's sash with the colors of the rainbow, as a form of protest, and for this reason he will receive an important honor from UEFA .
The main body in European football will award Guram with the #GameIgual award for his initiative, which ended up inspiring other captains to do the same.
The award will be presented in Monaco, on August 30th, during a gala ceremony for the group stage of the Champions League.
Despite being rewarded with the honor, Guram Kashi was the target of criticism within his own country, and a campaign calling for him to resign his position on the Georgia national team exposed the level of prejudice and intolerance towards sexual diversity in the country.
However, despite the criticism, the player claims that he does not regret what he did. “It was my responsibility. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do: if you don't hurt others you can be whoever [you] want. That's my vision, and that's how it is in the Netherlands [where he currently plays],” he said.
Regarding the award, he said he was honored. “I believe in equality for all, and I will always continue to advocate for inclusion and rights for all, wherever I play,” he added.
With information from the Observatório G website
