Complete and Utter Doucheweed of the Day goes to Oxford City’s Lee Steele for tweeting a homophobic comment about Wales rugby legend Gareth Thomas.
However, this story has a surprising ending considering some of the shit we’ve seen recently. The club stepped up and fired Steele’s ridiculous arse pronto.
Watishista kfunk22 gave me a heads up on this story and I’m grateful. We’re big fans of Gareth Thomas here for his courage and also his support in the fight against homophobia. Read on for the details…
The amazing and wonderful Gareth Thomas
Footballer sacked over homophobic tweet aimed at Gareth Thomas
• Oxford City striker posted offensive remark on Twitter
• Thomas is appearing on Celebrity Big Brother
Oxford City have sacked their striker Lee Steele for posting a homophobic remark on Twitter about the former Wales rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Mike Ford, manager of the Southern Football League Premier Division club, said the decision was taken in response to Steele tweeting about Thomas’s appearance in Celebrity Big Brother. Steele wrote: “I wouldn’t fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockmyarse”.
Ford told the BBC: “On this occasion Lee’s had to pay for his error of judgment. He’s made a homophobic comment, [but] that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s homophobic.”
A club statement said: “The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club.”
Steele, 38, had a long career in the Football League playing for clubs including Shrewsbury, Oxford United and Leyton Orient, and was part of the Brighton squad that won the old Division Two in 2001-02.
Thomas first spoke publicly about his sexuality in 2009, saying: “I’ve been through all sorts of emotions with this – tears, anger and absolute despair. I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to let people know and, to be honest, I feel anxious about people’s reactions and the effect it might have on my family.
“It’s been really tough for me, hiding who I really am and I don’t want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play rugby or some frightened young kid.”
Reacting to the sacking, the Justin Campaign against homophobia in football said: “While it is never pleasing to see someone lose a position in a club or company, we fully applaud the club’s decision to terminate the player’s contract.
“For far too long homophobic comments like the ones Steele made have been defended using the erroneous argument that such remarks as simply harmless ‘banter’. However, we no longer accept racist ‘banter’, and likewise, we must never accept homophobic ‘banter’.
“Oxford City’s brave decision shows us that things are, slowly, moving in the right direction and that football is starting to take homophobia, biphobia and transphobia seriously.”
I applaud Oxford City for their quick and decisive action in this case as well as their zero tolerance policy. People (and players) need to realize that racist and homophobic comments will not be tolerated. Lee Steele is suffering the consequences of his actions, as he should. Hopefully this will be a wake up call to others. Lip service to the campaigns against racism and homophobia have gone on too long. It’s time for clubs to take action.
– Lozil
Of Headbands and Heartbreak
watishistacorrespondents
Awesome to hear that the right actions are being made now, it’s about time that shit like this is no longer ignored.
‘padlockmyarse’? whatever the fuck does that mean? just because someone is gay, doesn’t mean he’s going to hit on every guy he sees. Not only is his tweet homophobic, its crude and totally inappropriate language for public social media.
I wish spanish football would take note and start address racial/homophobic abuse as well. Things are getting way out of hand in spanish stadiums.
I agree. You know what drives me fucking nuts? When guys use the #nohomo tag. I mean, wtf?! For example: “I really like Guti’s sweater and want one like it. #nohomo”
I mean, seriously, GROW THE FUCK UP. No one thinks you’re gay because you like Guti’s sweater. In fact, if you like Guti’s sweater, you’re probably hella straight because that sweater is FOUL and no self-respecting gay man I personally know would be caught dead in it unless it was at an ironic sweater party. 😉 Insecure boys are the worst.
Gareth Thomas is a brave man, who struggled mightily with coming out. He has been the epitome of class throughout everything that has happened since. He is a role model for many. To see someone making such an ignorant remark just makes me absolutely furious.
I just think people should be decent enough to let others live their lives. Why is that so hard to do? For example, i don’t drink, but it doesn’t give me the right to go around attacking everyone who does. Just because you don’t agree with someone’s way of life doesn’t mean you have to yap about it.
It’s also quite arrogant of him to assume that Thomas would want *his* ass. He’s also probably better off being fired, because if he wasn’t already aware, football is perceived as a pretty “man-on-man” sport sometimes… there is lots of rubbing and grinding up against other guys… wouldn’t want him thinking that the defender covering him is trying to get in his bum or anything.
I hope all his female friends padlock their vajayjays when they’re around him. Has he apologised for his rubbish?
Ladies, this is Lee Steele:
Reference this photo of Gareth Thomas:
Lee, honey, he’s out of your league. You wouldn’t have a chance to shine his shoes much less let him plunder your arse. Get over yourself. Enjoy the unemployment office.
Good on them for firing him!
How presumptuous of Lee Steele to even think he would be Gareth Thomas’s type!
well said!
Oh boo me, I just typed that… didn’t see you got here to point that out well before! Right on!
This is the best news I’ve heard all week. Good on Oxford City, it’s about time stuff like this is stamped out.
I’m totally stanning Oxford City now!
Have never seen a game of theirs. Will now have to check up their website to see which players/club I am currently stanning!
Well done Oxford City! I love you!
Brilliant!
Oh – and Gareth Thomas is a bleeding hero!