Another football team walks off pitch over alleged ‘homophobic’ slur

A UK football team abandoned a game after a homophobic slur was allegedly aimed at one of its players over the weekend.

A member of Portishead Town FC’s A-team is accused of making the comment against a Shipman AFC player in the Weston and District Football League in a game on Saturday (10 October).

It follows a similar protest in the US last week, when Phoenix Rising’s Junior Flemmings allegedly make a homophobic comment to San Diego Loyal’s openly gay player Collin Martin.

Flemmings was suspended for six games and given an undisclosed fine.

“Clear homophobic abuse”

Addressing this weekend’s incident on Twitter, a rep for Somerset’s Shipman AFC said: “Proud of the team today for walking off. Clear homophobic abuse from a @PortisheadTown player.

“Unacceptable behaviour at any level of the sport. Absolutely disgusting and the player in question needs to have a long hard look at himself.”

Proud of the team today for walking off. Clear homophobic abuse from a @PortisheadTown player. Unacceptable behaviour at any level of the sport. Absolutely disgusting and the player in question needs to have a long hard look at himself.

— Shipham AFC (@AfcShipham) October 10, 2020

A statement shared on Portishead’s Twitter account reads: “It’s been brought to our attention that there was an incident involving on of our players in our A team match away vs Shipham today, to which we have responded with those involved.

We have been made aware of an incident in today’s A team game @AfcShipham and have responded to, and will work with, the parties involved. We will make no further comment at this time. pic.twitter.com/NowmluqZPA

— Portishead Town FC (@PortisheadTown) October 10, 2020

“We are a fully inclusive family orientated club and do not condone this sort of behaviour and will investigate and assist the league and Shipham once the report is in […].”

Speaking to Attitude, a spokesperson for Somerset FA said: “We are aware of an alleged incident of homophobic abuse and are swiftly undertaking a thorough investigation. Somerset FA takes allegations of discrimination extremely seriously and we are working with the clubs involved to understand the facts and pass this information on to The FA who deal with all discrimination cases nationally. Incidents like this are very rare, but just one incident is too many; discrimination, abuse and violence has no place in football.”

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