FIFA release statement over Nigeria coach’s homophobic remarks

Thursday 30 Jun 2011
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FIFA has released a statement with regards to comments made by Nigeria women’s coach, Eucharia Uche, who called homosexuality ‘dirty’ and admitted she forced lesbians out of her team.

Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s head of women’s competitions, said: “FIFA is against all forms of discrimination. We are here at a FIFA event and will point out that it would be best to express oneself neutrally.”

Ahead of Nigeria’s opening game at the women’s World Cup on Sunday (26 June), a 1-0 defeat to France, Uche called homosexuality ‘dirty’ and insisted it was ‘spiritually and morally very wrong’.

In the interview with the New York Times, she commented: “Yes, the lesbians in our team were really a big problem. But since I’m coach of the Super Falcons, that has been cleared up. There are no more lesbian players on my team. I cannot tolerate this dirty life.”

From Associated Press

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