Alan Gordon of the San Jose Earthquakes was suspended three games, fined an undisclosed amount and ordered to sensitivity training two days after calling an opponent a "f—ing faggot" during a match. The suspension was the same handed out to another Major League Soccer player who used a gay slur last year and shows the league is serious about its zero-tolerance policy.
"Major League Soccer stands against discrimination and prejudice of any kind and will not tolerate this type of behavior," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "All of our players, staff and fans must remain committed to respect and dignity at all times."
It is quick and appropriate punishment and other league's should use the MLS as a model for handling these kinds of incidents.
Original article:
Mere minutes after I posted an article praising Major League Soccer for it’s “Don’t Cross The Line” campaign, a player crossed the line big time. Alan Gordon of the San Jose Earthquakes was caught on camera mouthing the words, “f—ing faggot” at Portland Timber captain Will Johnson. Gordon apologized after the game, and he can expect a suspension.
"I sincerely apologize for what I said in our game tonight. Although I said it in the heat of the moment, that language has no place in our game. That is not my character, but there is still no excuse for saying what I said. I made a mistake and I accept full responsibility for my actions. … The language I used came during a heated moment and does not reflect my feelings toward the gay and lesbian community."
The incident took place in the game's 60th minute at Portland after Johnson fouled Gordon. A fan with the Twitter handle Chance Encounter tweeted this to Outsports:
It wasn't caught on audio but a camera was pointed right at @SJEarthquakes Alan Gordon as he said "fucking faggot." The slur … happened just b4 the 60 minute mark you can see on his face he knows right away he fucked up.
Other media confirmed the use of a six-letter homophobic slur and there's only one common one as far as I know. Deadspin has the video evidence.
Gordon will be suspended without a doubt. As Pro Soccer Talk notes: “The last player who committed a similar offense was Seattle Sounders defender Marc Burch, who targeted Will Johnson (then with Real Salt Lake) with the same slur last November. Burch’s three-match ban forced him to miss last year’s Western Conference finals as well as the first game of the 2013 regular season.”
How weird that Will Johnson was on the receiving end of both slurs, and in another irony, the "Don't Cross The Line" PSA was aired prior to the start of the San Jose-Portland game. Johnson got the last laugh when he scored the game's only goal at the 77th minute to give Portland the win.
