Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers says opponent used homophobic slur

Robbie Rogers, the only openly gay player in MLS, says an opponent mocked his sexuality.

LA Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers says an opponent in a USL match mocked his sexuality. 

Rogers, the only openly gay player in MLS, was playing with the Galaxy’s reserve team against the Orange County Blues on Saturday while rehabbing an Achilles injury. 

“In the heat of the last fifteen minutes of the game a player from the opposing team called me a ‘queer’ repeatedly,” Rogers wrote on Facebook. “To be honest my initial reaction was one of shock. This is my fourth season back in the MLS and I've yet to hear another player use that or any other gay slur during a game.”

Rogers said he initially wished he’d acted liked French legend Zinedine Zidane and head-butted the player but later realized he was smart to keep his cool. He also said players on the opposing team apologized to him. 

MLS released the following statement Sunday night:

The USL said it will investigate the incident and “has zero tolerance for any discriminatory behavior.”