United Soccer League announced on Wednesday that it has suspended Orange County Blues midfielder Richard Chaplow two games, as well as fining him an undisclosed amount, for allegedly using “offensive and abusive language” towards LA Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers.
Rogers claims Chaplow used a homophobic slur against him, a charge he denies. Rogers, who came out in February 2013, is Major League Soccer’s only openly gay athlete.
Related: NCAA College Star Derrick Gordon Says NBA Didn’t Give Him A Shot Because He’s Gay
“In the heat of the last 15 minutes of the game a player from the opposing team called me a ‘queer’ repeatedly,” Rogers wrote on Facebook. “To be honest my initial reaction was one of shock.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The USL and MSL both released statements Sunday night saying they would investigate and reaffirmed their “zero tolerance for homophobia,” ESPN FC reports.
After consulting video, speaking with the referee, and players and staff from both teams, the USL Disciplinary Committee found enough evidence to take action.
“The USL has zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” Jake Edwards, President of the USL said in a statement. “We cannot, nor will we, condone any language that is counter to the values we have instilled throughout the USL.”
“At no point in the statement is a homophobic slur made reference to, and the simple reason for this is it didn’t happen,” Chaplow said in an interview with The Telegraph. “I swore several times at Rogers for overreacting to a foul, but at no time was the language homophobic and no evidence has been found of this, hence the way the statement has been wrote.
Related: LGBTQ Rights Groups Ask Big 12 To Shun BYU Over Discriminatory Policies
“I feel it’s important that people realise what the ban is for. I have a close family member that is openly part of LGBT community so to suggest I’m homophobic is ridiculous and there is no evidence to support this.”
A USL League source confirmed that it could not determine if the slur had been used and that Chaplow was suspended and fined for swearing at Rogers.
Mo Bro
Guy can’t handle being called a queer, even though he publicly identifies as one?
What’s next, he’ll object to being called a white guy? Whine that someone called him “baldy”?
The fuse of PC politics has been lit . . . beware the blast.
Paco
I guess the word ‘queer’ is still an offensive slur after all. It was the one slur that was used against me quite often and never agreed with the reclaiming of it by the gays that grew up in more supportive families in safe, protected bubbles.
ingyaom
“Queer” isn’t a bad word in itself, but it can be used as a slur, and that’s not sportspersonlike.
GayEGO
I understand the words of my last comment are abusive and may have been removed or re-spelled, but being gay and having been called names in the past, I understand why Richard Chaplow was fined and suspended.
[email protected]
@Mo Bro: And anyone else who likes to read stupid BS like this. Rogers said he was gay does not mean to run around like 4 year olds bullying the gay guy or the the other children USL made the determination, NOT Rogers… Maybe this will help; the principle spanked you rather then kicking your stupid ass out, for making stupid ass discriminatory comments. Why you still on Rogers ass? Read again if you need!
Mack
@Mo Bro: Again you sound just like a Log Cabin Republican who needs to be relevant with his stupid comments. Can’t get acceptance from his own party so he attacks everyone else. Just how pathetic is that.
Mack
@[email protected]: He’s a Trump supporter based on his other comment through out Queerty. Need I say more?
Mo Bro
@Mack: What?!
@[email protected]: WHAT?!?
Chris
They should also have forced him to get some training and to do some volunteer work at a gay center.
Brian
Oh, please, gay-identifying people use anti-gay slurs all the time. Queer, fa@…they are all used freely by gay-identifying people. Stop the moral preening and get off your high horses.
Of course, I’m not condoning the use of the words. I’m simply saying that you cannot find a bigger bunch of hypocrites and phonies than in the gay community. Your credibility is completely trashed as a community.
Bauhaus
@Brian:
When straights use anti-gay slurs, they are meant to harm us. When we use the same terms with each other, they can be empowering and a way to take take the sting out of ugly, demeaning words.
Mack
@Mo Bro: You’re nothing more than a pathetic Republican who party despises you. Must be pathetic to have to BEG to be recognize by someone you support.
Evji108
@Mo Bro: mo bo you’re an A- hole. How’s that? suck it up.