While multiple athletes have landed in hot water for their anti-gay comments on Twitter recently, it can help to realize the source of their homophobia often comes from authority figures—their coaches.
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, one of the most celebrated in the league, was caught on camera using the Spanish gay slur maricones, which means “queers” or “faggots.”
In the clip, Mourinho says, “Y esos maricones… No dicen con que balon se juega?” That translates to: “And these faggots… don’t say what ball you play with?”
Apparently there were two different colored balls on the field, one orange and one white, and he was making a reference to what colored ball to play with and that “fags” wouldn’t know which one to use. Still, offensive.
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While Mourinho will probably face a fine of some sort, this is a time when a coach might need to be made an example of. They hold such authority over players, and when a coach is okay with using homophobic language, the players are, too. Unfortunately, since Mourinho is such a legend, he’ll probably get a pass.
Here’s a clip of a news report about the offending slur, it’s all in Spanish:
Source: GayStarNews. Photo via apasciuto
dsp
F3 = fine him, fire him and forget about him (which can also be translated to “fuck him”)
MEJ
By “orange ball” I assume you mean his head. That motherfucker looks like a pumpkin.
rf7777
WTF is wrong with his skin? He makes Boehner’s skin color look like Snow White.
Alexa
He was a dick when he was at Chelsea, apparently nothing has changed.
SJE
While “maricón” does literally translate to “queer” or “fag,” it doesn’t the carry the same weight or stigma in Spanish-speaking countries as it does in English-speaking countries. Basically, it means “fag,” but then again, it doesn’t. We use the word “bitch” all the time like it’s no big deal, but over there, the word “puta” (which literally means “bitch”) is one of the most offensive words in the Spanish language. Just because a word translates literally does not mean the stigma or the social connotation does too.
Edgar
LOL.Fire him? This guy is the best coach on Earth in football, maybe greatest ever. Plus in Spain its acceptable to be racist and homophobic. But the meaning of the word does not carry the same meaning as the ranslation makes it out to be.
Edgar
Maricon is more like calling someone a sissy or girly. This is a perfect example of words meaning being lost in translation.
Gay in Spain
Edgar shut up already. You are a shameful bigot just like this portuguese guy.
Vanessa
I agree with Edgar. This was lost in translation. He did not say ANYTHING that came close to what you guys put:
“ ‘fags’ wouldn’t know which one to use”
He basically called someone a ‘faggot’ (more like a sissy or idiot or whatever) because they didn’t communicate which balls they were allowed to play, so he decided on an orange one.
Also, in some countries it is common to use “maricon” or”marica” for anything and everything.
So please don’t translate things that you are not sure of, because this is taken REALLY out of context.
Edgar
@ gay in spain, how am I a bigot when i didn’t even say anything derogatory or homophobic. All I said is what people in Spain do and what the word means. I never once said how I personally feel about homosexuals.
Doli
I think some of the posters here are very ignorant; I’m sure if they were gay they would not feel the same way about the use of the word. He needs to be fined heavily and put on suspension, as well as make a public apology to the gay and lesbian community. If this is not done, more people will mirror his behavior and think it is ok to demean homosexuals.
Gay in Spain
Edgar you are hopeless. And no, calling anybody “maricon” is not usual or acceptable in Spain. Go back to primary school get some basic education.