BY NATASHA BARSOTTI – Following the suspension of a Major League Soccer player for three games after he used a homophobic slur against another player, a Welsh footballer has also been suspended and fined for an anti-gay tweet aimed at British Olympic divers Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield and their performance at the London Summer Games.
The Football Association of Wales handed Port Talbot Town midfielder Daniel Thomas a one-match suspension and fined him 500 pounds for the tweet that originated from his account, which reads, “If there is any consolation for finishing fourth at least Daley and Waterfield can go and bum each other #teamHIV,” Pink News reports.
Daley won a bronze medal in the 10-metre diving event, while Waterfield did not medal.
Thomas at first denied sending the message, with his club saying he was the victim of a prank. But Port Talbot and Thomas, who was arrested in connection with the message, apologized “unreservedly” for the incident, Pink News says.
The director of public prosecutions ruled out charging Thomas for the tweet, saying that while it may be offensive, it was not a “grossly” criminal act, the report adds.
In September, the UK government released a report that says “evidence is now emerging that homophobia may now be a bigger problem in football than other forms of discrimination.
“Recent research found that 25% of fans think that football is homophobic while 10% think that football is racist. About 14% of recent match attendees also reported hearing homophobic abuse.”
Landing image: Welsh Premier League
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