Colombian football chair calls women’s game a ‘lesbian breeding ground’
Alberto Gamero coach of Tolima hugs with Gabriel Camargo CEO of Tolima after their team winning the Liga Aguila I 2018 the second leg match between Atletico Nacional and Deportes Tolima as part of the Liga Aguila I final on June 9, 2018 in Medellin, Colombia. (Gabriel Aponte/Vizzor Image/Getty)
The president of a Colombian football club has apologised after he described a women’s game as a “lesbian breeding ground” and suggested that female players are alcoholics.
Gabriel Camargo, the chair of Deportes Tolima, said he didn’t mean to cause offence with his remarks about lesbians, reports France 24.
“I declare it wasn’t my intention to offend women footballers, let alone undermine their fundamental rights of equality, non-discrimination, dignity, honor and good name,” he wrote in a letter shared by the club on social media.
Gabriel Camargo: I didn’t mean to cause offence with lesbian remark
It came after he insulted the Colombian women’s championship at a press conference in December.
“Apart from the problems you get with women, they’re more addicted to alcohol than men… Apart from that, I tell you, it’s a tremendous lesbian breeding ground.”
—Gabriel Camargo
“It’s going badly, it doesn’t give anything, not economically, not any of those things,” he said at the time.
“Apart from the problems you get with women, they’re more addicted to alcohol than men… Apart from that, I tell you, it’s a tremendous lesbian breeding ground.”
Footballer Yoreli Rincón criticised Gabriel Camargo for his lesbian comment on Twitter. (10yorelirincon /Twitter)
Colombian woman footballer criticises Gabriel Camargo over lesbian comment
Colombian women footballers from the country’s championship criticised the chair on social media for his comments.
“President Camargo, don’t forget where your sons come from.”
—Footballer Yoreli Rincón
Yoreli Rincón, who plays for Atletico Huila, hit out at Camargo on Twitter.
“President Camargo, don’t forget where your sons come from… A woman or do you want a woman footballer to iron clothes and bring you the club’s plates? Respect,” she wrote.
There are a number of top openly gay players in women’s football, including Nilla Fischer, who captains German side Wolfsburg, while homosexuality remains a taboo subject in the men’s game.
It’s not the first time the women’s game has been associated with lesbianism in a derogatory way.
In November, a 13-year-old girl from Wales said she was called a lesbian because she plays football.
And, in September 2017, a Russian footballer was asked whether she is a lesbian in a strange interview published by a blogger.
