Morocco’s Women’s Soccer Captain Was Asked About Her Teammates’ Sexuality And People Are Pissed
“In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”
The BBC has apologized after one of its male reporters asked Morocco’s women’s soccer team captain about the sexual orientations of the team’s players.
During a press conference before Morocco’s World Cup opener against Germany on Monday July 24, a journalist for the British media company asked Ghizlane Chebbak if there were any LGBTQ players on her team.
“In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”, the reporter said.
The moderator immediately intervened, stating the question was too political before asking the reporter to please “stick to questions relating to football”.
“No, it’s not political, it’s about people,” the reporter replied. “Please let her answer the question.”
Footage of the interview shows Chebbak visibly grimacing before taking out her ear piece and laughing in disbelief.
After a silence, Chebbak then moves onto answering a question from the next reporter.
Same-sex relations are illegal in Morocco, with punishments up to three years in prison and fines of up to 1,200 dirhams (US$272).
The reporter’s question was heavily criticized as not only inappropriate but also for potentially endangering the players.
“Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,” CBC Sports reporter Shireen Ahmed, who was also in the room when it happened, tweeted.
Ahmed that although the question was dismissed by the moderator, it should not have been asked in the first place.
“If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous,” she tweeted.
The BBC has since issued an apology.
“We recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress” a BBC spokesperson told CNN.
This is the first time Morocco is playing in a Women’s World Cup, making it the first Arab and north African team to qualify for a Women’s World Cup.
It is set to play South Korea next in the Group Stages on Sunday July 30.
