iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Manchester United Striker Federico Macheda Charged By FA For Homophobic Comment On Twitter

The Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 28/02/2012 08:16 Updated: 28/02/2012 08:16

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

The Football Association's campaign against homophobia was ramped up again yesterday, as Manchester United striker Federico Macheda was one of three footballers charged with allegedly posting an anti-gay tweet.

Newcastle United's Nile Ranger and Walsall's Manny Smith were also charged along with the on-loan Queens Park Rangers forward for using alleged homophobic comments on the social networking site. The FA stated that each has until 1600 GMT on Wednesday 29 February to respond to their respective charges.

Recent West Ham United signing Ravel Morrison was fined £7,000 after he admitted a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words on Twitter, including a reference to a person's sexual orientation.

Macheda deleted his tweet, but it was screen grabbed by a Twitter user:


federico macheda27
I didn't mean it in the homophobic way...I just answer to someone that insult me, and I didn't want to say gay, buy guy! That's it!

Ex-Leicester City defender Michael Ball meanwhile received a £6,000 fine after an outburst against Coronation Street actor Anthoy Cotton. Ball was sacked for posting the message by Leicester in January.

Oxford City recently also fired striker Lee Steele after he made a remark about outed rugby union star Gareth Thomas.

Tweeting about Thomas's appearance in Celebrity Big Brother, Steele wrote: "I wouldn't fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockmyarse".

Macheda took to Twitter to plead his innocence:


Craig Norwood
For those asking what was Federico Macheda's tweet that the FA have charged him for, it is here (via )

The FA launched a new six-year inclusion and anti-homophobia plan on Monday, as Justin Fashanu remains the only footballer to have played in England and come out. Fashanu committed suicide in 1998 after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year old in Maryland, US.

But despite strives to clamp down on homophobic comments, the FA is responsible for such a climate in football, according to former NBA basketball player John Amaechi.

Amaechi, who revealed his sexuality in 2007, said the issue will only be quelled by greater diversity among the FA board members - not "posters and platitudes".

FOLLOW HUFFPOST UK

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Peter G Tatchell

Peter G Tatchell: Commonwealth Chief Condemns Homophobia But Where's the Action?

The penalties for same-sex relations include 25 years jail in Trinidad and Tobago and 20 years plus flogging in Malaysia. Six Commonwealth countries stipulate life imprisonment: Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana. In parts of Nigeria and Pakistan, same-sex relationships can be punishable by death.Commonwealth states account for more than half of the countries in the world that still outlaw homosexuality. This defies the Commonwealth's ostensible commitment to equality and human rights.

 
 
  • Comments
  • 5
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
all hat
14 Fans
05:21 PM on 03/02/2012
What kind of a sick world do we live in if we can't tweet what we feel without breaking a law
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dannywanny
548 Fans
06:24 PM on 03/02/2012
Perhaps a world where respect and consideration for one another is a reality, instead of a wistful dream, a world that Dr Martin Luther King spoke of 50 years ago in his "I have a dream" speech. In the world you appear to inhabit, people can use racial and sexual slurs against others, perpetuating irrational prejudice, fear and hatred.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
all hat
14 Fans
07:20 PM on 03/02/2012
I have the right to speak my mind no matter what you or anyone thinks of what I say. I live in a world where individuals can determine for themselves who and what deserves respect and consideration. How childish to expect the government to protect my feelings. If people say things you don't like take care of it yourself. If people don't behave well exclude them from your life but quit running to the government to force your moral beliefs on everyone.
Permalink  |