San Diego Loyal coach and former U.S. Soccer star Landon Donovan said his team decided to take a stand against homophobia on Wednesday night, forfeiting its match after a gay player was called a slur by a Phoenix Rising player.
Players on the pitch said Phoenix Rising midfielder Junior Flemmings called Loyal midfielder Collin Martin a slur during first half stoppage time.
Martin is gay and became the second active MLS player to come out as LGBT when he played for Minnesota United in 2018. The phrase used is a homophobic slur in Flemmings' native Jamaica.
The slur prompted an immediate reaction from Martin’s teammates, who confronted Flemmings.