Yarr! A scallywag reporter be blasted fer askin' the Morocco captain an 'improper' query 'bout me hearties' preferences!
2023-07-25
Arr, the BBC be askin' Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak 'bout her crewmates' affections, clashin' with the laws o' same-sex love. Methinks the scurvy dogs should apologize, for pryin' into private matters like a nosy parrot!
A reporter faced heavy criticism after asking the captain of Morocco’s women’s national team about her teammates' sexuality in relation to the country’s laws against same-sex relationships. The incident occurred during a press conference before Morocco's 6-0 loss to Germany in their opening Women’s World Cup match. The 32-year-old forward, Ghizlane Chebbak, was asked the controversial question by an unnamed BBC reporter. The reporter inquired about the presence of gay players in the squad and what life is like for them in Morocco, where gay relationships are illegal.Chebbak grimaced upon hearing the translation of the question but did not respond, as a mediator stepped in to redirect the conversation to football-related topics. The reporter denied that the question was political and insisted that it concerned people, not politics. The BBC later issued an apology, acknowledging that the question was inappropriate and expressing no intention to cause harm or distress.
The question received backlash on social media, with critics arguing that asking about players' sexuality in a country where it is illegal could put the players in danger. Steph Yang, a soccer staff writer for The Athletic, emphasized the need to discuss the intersection of politics and sports at the World Cup but cautioned against causing further harm to those affected by these politics. Shireen Ahmed, a senior contributor at CBS Sports, condemned the question as completely out of line, highlighting the potential danger of outing players or commenting on policies that could harm them.
Overall, the incident sparked outrage and raised concerns about the responsibility of journalists to ask sensitive and appropriate questions, particularly in contexts where individuals' safety may be at risk.