gareth thomas
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Yorkshire, England -
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has fined a team more than $60,000 US dollars because fans targeted an opposing player with homophobic abuse.
Crusader player Gareth Thomas announced he was gay in December.
During his second game for the Crusaders, fans of the Castleford Tigers called him "faggot."
Castleford Tigers fans have a history of bad behavior; the team was fined last year after bottles were thrown on the field and officials were harassed.
"There was some chanting on the day, we agreed this with the tribunal panel," Castleford attorney Rod Findlay told the Telegraph. "There were three incidents lasting only a few moments, two of which were drowned out by public address announcements.
"The club condemns any person who makes or chants obscene remarks towards players or officials," he said. "But the charges against the club are not that there was chanting, they are that the club failed to take its' best endeavors to prevent or stop any chanting."
Sports Illustrated says that Thomas is the only openly gay player in a team sport in the world.
Last year when he came out, Thomas said, "I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player, first and foremost I am a man."
Crusader player Gareth Thomas announced he was gay in December.
During his second game for the Crusaders, fans of the Castleford Tigers called him "faggot."
Castleford Tigers fans have a history of bad behavior; the team was fined last year after bottles were thrown on the field and officials were harassed.
"There was some chanting on the day, we agreed this with the tribunal panel," Castleford attorney Rod Findlay told the Telegraph. "There were three incidents lasting only a few moments, two of which were drowned out by public address announcements.
"The club condemns any person who makes or chants obscene remarks towards players or officials," he said. "But the charges against the club are not that there was chanting, they are that the club failed to take its' best endeavors to prevent or stop any chanting."
Sports Illustrated says that Thomas is the only openly gay player in a team sport in the world.
Last year when he came out, Thomas said, "I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player, first and foremost I am a man."
