FA reports homophobic abuse
The Nike match ball infront of rainbow flags during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on February 24, 2018. (Catherine Ivill/Getty)
The Football Association (FA) has complained to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) after a Bulgarian team president called British referee Mike Riley a “homosexual.”
Todor Batkov, president of Levski Sofia, called Mr Riley a homosexual after he sent off one of his side’s strikers in an eventual loss to German club Schalke in the quarter finals of the European competition.
Mr Batkov said: “This British homosexual broke the game.”
The FA labelled the comments as homophobic and offensive, Neale Barry, head of refereeing said: “Mike is one of this country’s top officials, hence his appointment by UEFA for such a prestigious quarter-final tie.
“The subsequent comments by the Levski Sofia president are deeply offensive and we have decided to report it to UEFA.”
Mr Riley has also issued a complaint, saying the Levski fans were racist to Schalke’s balck player, Gerald Asamoah.
The FA told PinkNews.co.uk of its commitment to kicking discrimination out of football last month.
