German soccer star Kevin Behrens was reportedly punished recently after refusing to sign a gay pride shirt for a fan.
“I won’t sign that gay [expletive],” Behrens allegedly told the fan when asked to sign a shirt with a rainbow logo for the LGBTQ flag.
He later apologized for making the comment.
“My spontaneous comments were absolutely not OK. I would like to apologize for that. The issue was clearly discussed internally, and I ask for your understanding that I do not wish to comment further on it,” Behrens said in a statement.
His soccer club, VfL Wolfsburg, released a statement addressing the incident earlier this week.
“During an internal meeting, statements were made that were not in line with VfL Wolfsburg’s stance. The incident was immediately dealt with internally. VfL Wolfsburg stresses that it is aware of its social responsibility. The club and its employees stand for diversity and tolerance, and fundamental values, such as respect, honesty and openness, have always been firmly anchored in the club’s philosophy,” the statement said.
