Eredivisie club captain El Yaakoubi out over OneLove dispute

Excelsior Rotterdam’s Dutch defender Redouan El Yaakoubi has relinquished the club captaincy after refusing to pose in a group photograph with the OneLove banner forward of a Dutch top-flight recreation, the Eredivisie club stated on Tuesday.

The incident befell on March 19 forward of Excelsior’s 4-1 residence win over SC Cambuur and has resulted in a joint choice between El Yaakoubi and the club to discover a new captain.

The OneLove marketing campaign embraces inclusiveness, connection, tolerance and opposition to all types of discrimination.

“Not taking a seat behind the large OneLove banner during the team photo has caused a lot of noise and misunderstanding, both internally and externally,” Excelsior stated on their web site.

The club added they’d by no means exclude anybody “on the basis of skin colour, origin, religion, or sexual preference. But neither will we exclude anyone on the basis of their own opinion.”

“Although we are primarily a football club, we realise better than anyone that we also have a social function and we do something with that every day,” the assertion added.

“The OneLove action, however well intentioned, has put things on edge. Forcing people into something is never the way to go.

“Therefore, within the curiosity of the club, the participant and sporting goal now we have collectively determined to put the captain’s armband elsewhere throughout the group in order that each club and participant be happy and cozy of their function.”

Excelsior are fifteenth within the standings on 23 factors from 26 video games, two factors above the relegation zone playoffs.