Cristiano Ronaldo Subject Of Anti-Gay Chants At Barcelona Game

"This ends up continuing the presence of homophobia in Spanish football.”

From: NewNowNext

 “Fittest Man Alive,” Cristiano Ronaldo was the target of anti-gay chants from the audience during Spain’s Clasico soccer championship game between Barcelona and Real Madrid because of his alleged relationship with Moroccan kick boxer Badr Hadri.

According to Morocco World News “the crowd were heard chanting ‘Vete a Marruecos,’ or ‘Go to Morocco,’ in reference to the player’s regular visits to Morocco,” but ESPN reports that the homophobic slurs were not included in the referee’s report of the game, and Ronaldo has not spoken out about the incident.

“These lamentable and shameful actions are punishable under the Sport Law of 2007,” said Francisco Ramirez, director of StopLGBTfobia, an organization that assists victims of hate crimes. 

“These are nothing new in Spanish stadiums, where for years players and referees have often been insulted using homophobic terms, without there being any public or exemplary punishment. This ends up continuing the presence of homophobia in Spanish football.”

“For months, Ronaldo is the continuous object of insults and malintentioned rumors in the tabloid and sensationalist press, but also from sports reporters, players and fans of rival teams, with the goal of humiliating, offending and denigrating a great player,” said Ramirez.

Spain’s Anti-Violence Commission in Sport was established in 2007 to deal with problems of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, and has recently started to punish individuals who make racist chants or gesture during games.

“It is incomprehensible that there is a double standard when it comes to intolerance in sport,” argued Ramirez. “Action is taken quickly in cases of racism or xenophobia, but the biggest intolerance at this moment in football is homophobia, and this is being ignored.”

The Spanish Observatory against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender phobia has filed a report to the State Commission against Violence concerning Saturday’s homophobic chants.

Watch a recap of the game below where you can hear the chant “Vete a Marruecos.”