Welsh footballer’s account sends Tom Daley ‘prank’ anti-gay tweet
A Welsh footballer’s Twitter stream featured an anti-gay comment about British divers Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield after they narrowly missed out on a medal at the Olympics yesterday.
Daniel Thomas, a semi-professional midfielder with Port Talbot FC denied he had sent the homophobic tweet, saying he himself had been the victim of a “prank”.
Daley and his diving partner Waterfield, neither of whom is known to be gay, missed a medal in the synchronised diving event at the London Olympics yesterday after leading the field at the early rounds.
A public tweet the younger diver then received from the user @Rileyy_69 telling him he had let down his father, who died last year from brain cancer, attracted national uproar on the micro-blogging platform. A 17-year-old has been arrested in Weymouth after the user at one point appeared to threaten to drown the diver.
Meanwhile, the Western Mail reports that a tweet appeared on the page for footballer Daniel Thomas which said: “If there is any consolation for finishing fourth at least Daley and Waterfield can go and bum each other #teamHIV.”
Thomas’s account, @10danthomas10, appears to have been suspended.
Port Talbot FC issued the following statement: “Upon being informed of the matter, we immediately distanced ourselves from any offensive messages whilst investigating the matter further.
“Having spoken at length to the player in question, we believe that he regrettably left his phone unattended and was the victim of a very misguided ‘prank’.
“The player issued an immediate apology for the comments which appeared on his Twitter feed and has since deleted his account.
“Both the player and club wish to apologise unreservedly to those offended and in no way condone such views.”
