For calling a bumbling ball boy a “f**king faggot,” Houston Dynamo Colin Clark has been fined an undisclosed amount, banned from three matches, and required to attend sensitivity training, reports SB Nation.
Clark said in a new statement:
“I am sorry about what happened during the Seattle match. I have personally apologized to the ball boy, and I want to take this chance to say I’m sorry to everyone that I’ve offended. I intend to never use those words again in any context. There is no excuse for them. What I said does not properly represent who I am or what I believe. I made a mistake that I truly regret. I accept the punishment that has been handed down by MLS, and I want to learn from this incident and move forward.”
Towleroad says GLAAD has reached out to Major League Soccer to work with Clark as a “#soccerally,” but has not heard back.
Caleb
Who is the f’ing faggot, now?
Aric
Finally, a decent apology. Good job… To whoever wrote it
JAW
Too Harsh… The words that were flying on the original post were much insulting then his words… he was quick to apologize.
Bailey
the only thing he is sorry about is that the mic picked up what he said… not that he said it.
JayKay
A complete over-reaction to a bunch of over-sensitive little queens getting their gender non-conforming undergarments in a bunch over a simple insult…
Well, at least we’re not in Europe. He’d probably be put to death by firing squad for this over there.
Belize
@Bailey: OK. You’re cynical. You must’ve been bullied by straight people. You must’ve met people who you have realized would never EVER accept you for what you are and would never see you more than “an affront to God” no matter how hard you try to be a good person regardless of your sexual preference. I get it.
But unless you can read minds, can you really be sure that there is no level of sincerity in this apology? Furthermore, what more would you want? Would him getting fired be a just punishment for saying that word? Would you have his tongue get cut out for making that mistake? Would you have him go in the middle of the field, in front of a packed stadium to , get on his knees and beg for mercy from the LGBT community?
I am all for seeking respect for us. But a little positivism is not a sign that you’re being naive. In this case, it would be a sign of openness. A sign that we, a group of people who have been harshly judged countlessly for God knows how long understands the pain of such judgement. Ergo, we have the capacity to be a little above the act of committing the same mistreatments that have been committed to us.
That is not the act of rolling over and “just taking it.” That’s called maturity.
Personally, I would have the authorities disclose the amount in order to show the gravity of the punishment that goes with the three game ban. But this is not entirely a bad punishment.
The main goal for us right now is to create a sound, respectful co-existence among people regardless of sexual orientation or gender. We are not seeking to make ourselves the chosen people here because that would be going against everything that our community stands for. Ergo, this level of cynicism and this unforgiving defensiveness does us no favors. It only continues to ruin our image as a community undeserving of equal treatment because we ourselves are incapable of treating people fairly.
Belize
@JayKay: “Well, at least we’re not in Europe. He’d probably be put to death by firing squad for this over there.”
Oh, you mean in Europe where there are countries where people won’t bash the likes of you for being gay? Yes, JayKay. It is possible to be happy. But wait, don’t get to excited. Don’t book a flight yet so that you can leave the beard you married just so you won’t get your weak little ass bashed to death. They may not want to kill you for being gay in some European countries. But, in any society, there will always be a great number of people who would want to kill you for being a disgustingly laughable MORON.
kevininbuffalo
Nobody here is the least concerned that he was abusive to the ball boy…Christ what a self absorbed bunch.
JayKay
@Belize:
I’d much rather live in a nation of homophobes and gay bashers than a draconian wasteland where you risk being jailed for offending minorities.
Oh and you angry queens should really look for a new card to play. The “hurr u hate yerself” bit is getting tired.
Ragmatical
Obviously he shouldn’t have said what he said, but it seems to me that this punishment was given so that people who got their panties in a knot could move on.
People who are are in front of large audiences preforming are given more responsibility to act to the social norms and rules by the audience, and their punishments therefor far more severe if they deviate.
It sorta feels like elementary school again. He called that boy a mean name!
It wasn’t because of the boys sexuality, nor does it really seem that was he was thinking of the misconception that gay people aren’t good at handling balls. Er, sports balls that is. Probably just testosterone and stress.
J
@ jaykay, you’re a bit tired.
Ok, ok
@JayKay: You’re obviously a scared and closeted little boy in a weak and pathetic man’s body. Keep the self hate up, loser.
JayKay
@J:
I am, yes. Being this awesome 24/7 takes a lot out of you.
JayKay
@Ok, ok:
But I love myself. A lot. It’s everyone else who sucks.
MEJ
@JayKay:
Yeah, and no one’s sucking you. That’s why you’re so bitter, and pissy towards real gay men.
Barry White
This guy is HOT!
Curtis
Yes. and hes soo hot when hes calling you a fag.
Anyway, they sure made an example out of this guy haha
Let them play.. If I wanna play sports I’ll play gay rugby xD
G
He’s hot, he can say whatever he wants to me! (KIDDING)
James
If JayKay had his way Matthew Sheppard would happen everyday. Homophobia sure damages gay men. They view themselves as less than.
TommyOC
Just to be clear, “#soccerally” is an initiative of gay4soccer-dot-com, NOT an initiative of GLAAD’s.
The former is a group of GLBT bloggers who love American soccer and who have worked hard to cultivate a relationship with the league and its players in an effort to make American soccer the gay friendliest league in the nation (if not the world); the latter is an organization that jumps from cause-to-cause in a seeming effort to politicize and punish ignorant folks — and alienate many of their own kind in the process.
JAW
why is it people are out to hang this kid… for something he said in the heat of battle on the soccer field… Yet they give Carson Daly a pass for his planned demeaning so called joke??
This guy has been punished enough… time we move on
Kyle
@JAW: I drop the n-word all the time when I’m driving and somebody cuts me off. “You stupid n-word!” I do. Honest.
An Ella Fan
Another example of the virulent and rampant homophobia found in the Caucasian-American Community!
FunMe
You would think young people would be more open, but some just aren’t. Glad he found out there are consequences for HATE.
FunMe
PS Yes, his apology is way better than most, including the one that came later from Carson.
But why do these people who say hateful things always say it does not represent who they are? Then why do they say it?