BBC apologises for asking Moroccan soccer captain ‘inappropriate’ question
By Carla Jaeger
The UK’s national broadcaster has apologised for an “inappropriate” question directed to the captain of the Moroccan soccer team.
At a FIFA Women’s World Cup press conference on Sunday, a BBC reporter asked Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak whether any players in her squad were gay.
The BBC has apologised for an “inappropriate” directed to the captain of the Moroccan soccer team on Sunday. Credit: Reuters
Morocco is the first Arab nation and North African side to play at the Women’s World Cup, and one of eight first-time qualifiers at the event. It is also one of 67 countries that outlaw same-sex relationships, punishable by up to three years in prison.
The press conference was held to preview the match between Germany and Morocco in Melbourne on Monday, which Germany won 6-0.
The BBC reporter asked Chebbak: “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?”
Both Chebbak and the team’s coach, Frenchman Reynald Pedros, responded with surprised faces, before Chebbak removed her earpiece.
A FIFA official quickly interjected, telling the journalist the question was “very political” and asked them to stick to football-related questions.
In response, the journalist said: “No, it’s not political. It’s about people. It’s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.”
Steph Yang, a journalist at The Athletic who was in attendance at the press conference tweeted about the question at the time, writing: “From a harm reduction perspective, this is not an appropriate question for a player and would have endangered the players themselves.”
Yang added in her article: “Some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question.”
The BBC responded on Tuesday, with a spokesperson saying: “We recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.”
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