Rabat – British media outlet BBC has apologized for an “inappropriate” question asked by one of its reporters during a pre-game press conference prior to the Morocco-Germany game in the Women’s World Cup.
The incident dates back to Sunday, when a BBC reporter asked Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak whether there are any LGBTQ+ players on the 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 BBC reporter asked.
Chebbak refused to answer the question, while the FIFA interpreter said the question is political, stressing that the conference should stick to football.
The situation triggered an online debate, questioning the motives of posing the question during a football press conference.
Following the backlash, a BBC spokesperson told CNN, “We recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.”
There was then one more question before the press conference ended.
CNN also quoted sports journalists who witnessed the provocative question from the BBC reporter.
“The Athletic’s Steph Yang, who was in the room, said that ‘some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question,’” CNN reported.
CBC Sports reporter Shireen Ahmed also criticized the question asked during the event, stressing that such an inquiry was “completely out of line.”
“Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,” she added.
Morocco criminalizes same sex relationships under article 489 of the Penal Code.
Under this law, Morocco criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex.”
Those charged under Article 489 face a sentence of imprisonment ranging from three months to six years and a fine of up to MAD 1,200.
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