Footballer Lee Steele has been let go
by the Oxford City after he posted an anti-gay tweet directed at UK
rugby star Gareth Thomas.
Thomas, who came out gay in 2009,
retired from rugby late last year. The Welshman's coming out
inspired other professional athletes to come out, including English
cricketer Steven Michael Davies and Swedish footballer (European
soccer) Anton
Hysen.
Last week, the 37-year-old Thomas
entered the Channel 5 Celebrity Big Brother UK house.
Steele, 38, messaged to his followers
on Twitter: “I wouldn't fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas
#padlockeda**ehole.”
According to the BBC,
the Oxford City fired the athlete.
Club manager Mike Ford said: “On this
occasion Lee's had to pay for his error of judgment.”
“He's made a homophobic comment,”
Ford added, “that doesn't necessarily mean he's homophobic.”
Former rugby star Ben Cohen, who
continues to speak out against homophobia in the sports world, said:
“If you are a sportsman, you're a role model and people look up to
you no matter what division you're in.”
(Related: Ben
Cohen signs beefcake calendar in UK gay sex shop.)