Footballer sacked for homophobic comments

baby and crumble

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/11/oxford-homophobic-tweet-gareth-thomas

I'm quite pleased about this. Shows that homophobia in sport is starting to be taken seriously.

Oxford City have sacked their striker Lee Steele for posting a homophobic remark on Twitter about the former Wales rugby player Gareth Thomas.

Mike Ford, manager of the Southern Football League Premier Division club, said the decision was taken in response to Steele tweeting about Thomas's appearance in Celebrity Big Brother. Steele wrote: "I wouldn't fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockmyarse".

Ford told the BBC: "On this occasion Lee's had to pay for his error of judgment. He's made a homophobic comment, [but] that doesn't necessarily mean he's homophobic."

A club statement said: "The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club."

L.Jenkins

Ford told the BBC: "On this occasion Lee's had to pay for his error of judgment. He's made a homophobic comment, [but] that doesn't necessarily mean he's homophobic."

That's akin to saying, "I'm not racist, but..." On the other hand, I love how the coward hid behind twitter to make such comments about a Rugby player.

jaffacakesyum

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

That's akin to saying, "I'm not racist, but..." On the other hand, I love how the coward hid behind twitter to make such comments about a Rugby player.

I actually kinda agree with that. One homophobic comment doesn't make him a homophobe. It could easily be a joke, albeit an offensive one.

I'm glad he got sacked though!

JupiterKid

A tiny step in the right direction for the football world, but a step nonetheless.

There is a mountain to be climbed in terms of dealing with homophopbia in football, but it can be climbed step by step.

L1011

Ironically, he made his name playing for....


Brighton.

Captain Graphite

When I first read that I thought maybe he was just making a (stupid and unfunny) joke without actually aiming to offend people. But the #padlockmyarse tag at the end seems quite malicious and offensive.

Perhaps sacking him was a little harsh; a fine, a public reprimand and an apology from him probably would have sufficed. Still, can't say I feel sorry for him either.

baby and crumble

Yeah, it's the insinuation that straight men have to watch themselves around gay men that's the offensive thing, I think...

L.Jenkins

baby and crumble wrote: »

Yeah, it's the insinuation that straight men have to watch themselves around gay men that's the offensive thing, I think...

Ah yes, the old backs to the walls boys. Simple reply to that insult, your a minger and I wouldn't roide ya with 2 brown paper bags, one for you and one for me incase yours comes off.

L1011

Also, from memory, despite it being the high point of his career he wasn't actually particularly good for Brighton (being an Albion fan myself; unconnected to being gay but I've still worn the shirt at Pride sometimes...)

Nyan Cat

It sounded like he was trying to be funny and 'hip' with the hashtag. But it was completely inappropriate to say that about a fellow sportsman - in public as well.

Sacking seems a bit ott. But sometimes strong consequences are necessary to change things.

cgcsb

perhaps a bit harsh, maybe he should have had the option of making a public apology to Gareth Thomas in exchange for not getting the sack. He's not a very well known player and he's not on a very well known team either so he probably didn't think many ppl would give a toss what drunken ramblings he posted on twitter.

LegacyUser

I am glad he got sacked, but I genuinely lol'd at the hashtag as it was a joke but also innapropriate considering who the two people are and the forum being public.

Maybe because I am bi I do not find it offensive? But I can see how it would offend.

Sonics2k

As many people know, my usual comment on such things is to take it as a joke or something.

But, that's not even slightly amusing. Just stupid.

fluffybiscuits

Well its something you would maybe say to yer mates down the pub but not in a crowded room of people. Itsthatmanagain has a great response....!

foggy_lad

Sacking someone for that is just political correctness gone mad! What is next?

L.Jenkins

foggy_lad wrote: »

Sacking someone for that is just political correctness gone mad! What is next?

It was harsh, but think of it in this sense. If he got a slap on the wrist and told to be a good boy, then it becomes somewhat acceptable. Getting the sack means others will think before they talk.

I understand that we should all lighten up and things are said in gest, but someone will take offense. Anyhow, what's wrong with treating people with a bit of dignity and respect?

mikemac1

He's 38, club probably just sacking him as an easy way out of his contract

Finances are limited, many [most?] clubs carry debt

Old player sacked, money saved
If they released him they'd pay off the rest of the contract. So they didn't release him, they sacked him

Annasopra

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

Anyhow, what's wrong with treating people with a bit of dignity and respect?

Nothing. It's just that free speech extremists like to call those of us who ask for it PC and Po faced.

cgcsb

mikemac1 wrote: »

He's 38,

he should really know better.

LegacyUser

mango salsa wrote: »

Nothing. It's just that free speech extremists like to call those of us who ask for it PC and Po faced.

You are confusing things.

Being a "free speech extremist" or "pc" has nothing to do with not being nice to people.

baby and crumble

Actually, I think the two are intrinsically linked.

I have been called 'too pc' many times, usually when I tell someone a joke they have made at the expense of a minority (just like the one that caused this guy to get sacked) isn't funny, or is insensitive and offensive, or something along those lines.

If this guy had taken a few minutes to seriously think about what he was saying about another human being, he wouldn't have said it, if he was concerned with being polite or nice.

BattleCorp

Very OTT to sack the guy for that comment. In fairness, it was a joke and not a very offensive one at that (I do realise this is subjective though, maybe the fact that I am not a gay man dilutes the insult).

People are taking it way too seriously. Does being gay mean that you have to take every bit of a joke or comment as a mortal injury and demand a pound of flesh in revenge.

Sacking is a bit over the top. He didn't kill anybody remember. And the sacking not only affects him, it also affects his wife and kids (if he has any).

If I am offended by a gay man posting on boards about how "disgusting" sex would be with a woman (which happens here) or make a joke at my expense should I get in a tizzy and demand that he be sacked for that comment? I think not.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my view on it.

baby and crumble

BattleCorp wrote: »

Very OTT to sack the guy for that comment. In fairness, it was a joke and not a very offensive one at that (I do realise this is subjective though, maybe the fact that I am not a gay man dilutes the insult).

People are taking it way too seriously. Does being gay mean that you have to take every bit of a joke or comment as a mortal injury and demand a pound of flesh in revenge.

Sacking is a bit over the top. He didn't kill anybody remember. And the sacking not only affects him, it also affects his wife and kids (if he has any).

If I am offended by a gay man posting on boards about how "disgusting" sex would be with a woman (which happens here) or make a joke at my expense should I get in a tizzy and demand that he be sacked for that comment? I think not.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my view on it.

TBH, no-one called for his sacking, if I remember, the club did it automatically. And yes, your not being a gay person does mean that in your eyes, it's probably not as strong a comment. Doesn't mean that your viewpoint isn't valid though.

I think the issue here is that for many gay people, someone who has a microphone like a professional footballer does, and can say things that influence other peoples thoughts and behaviours, cannot have free reign to say whatever he likes in public. If he was down the pub with his friends, and not 'quote-worthy' then tbh it's just some ignorant idiot trying to be funny. But he's a public figure, and as such he has a bit more responsibility than anonymous punters on a forum.

I also think that your comment "he didn't kill anyone" is a bit flippant. I agree, his error wasn't THAT big a deal on the grand scheme of things. But if his comment means some teenager in some town somewhere thinks it's ok to bully some young gay lad because of his comments, then it's not something that can or should be accepted, in my opinion. Sacking him might have been a bit ott, but he's an example, much like the footballer in the big race row at the moment is. No-one is complaining he's getting badly treated, are they? Because racism is bad, but homophobia? Sure that's just normal...

LegacyUser

Being nice and being too pc, or not is not instrincincly linked.

Also, while I agree of him being sacked as to make an example this sort of joking happens amongst lads.

Like the andy gray thing, these two were just stupid eneough to say it with a camera there.