FIFA investigates claims that lesbians have been banned from playing professional football in Nigeria

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Football’s world governing body FIFA has written to the Nigerian Football Association over reports that lesbians are now banned from playing football there.

A FIFA spokesman confirmed the letter but emphasized it was a preliminary inquiry.

Dilichukwu Onyedinma, head of the Nigeria women’s football league said lesbian players would not be allowed to compete.

Onyedinma said: “Any player that we find is associated with it [lesbianism] will be disqualified.

“We will call the club chairmen to control their players and such players will not be able to play for the national team.

“It is happening but we have to talk to the clubs and look inside the clubs, and these things have to do with clubs.

“There are particular clubs that don’t even want to hear about it and once they heard it the players involved will be sacked.”

While contravening FIFA’s anti-discrimination policies,  the situation is made more complicated because homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria.

In July 2011, FIFA criticised Eucharia Uche, the former coach of the Nigerian women’s football team after she said she had forced out lesbian players.

Uche reportedly said that being gay “was “morally very wrong” and “a dirty issue” and claimed that she had taken steps to stamp it out in the squad.

 

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