Blue Jays Yunel Escobar Suspended for Writing in His Face: "Maricon"

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar played Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox with eye-black stickers containing a homophobic slur in Spanish. Photograph: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays, for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox.

Pictures posted online showed the Blue Jays shortstop with the message written in his eye-black, a sticker players wear under their eyes to reduce glare from the sun. The slur did not appear to be directed at any person in particular.

The Blue Jays are in New York to play the Yankees later Tuesday. The punishment was announced during a news conference at Yankee Stadium.

"The suspension is the result of his decision to display an unacceptable message while participating in a major league game," the Blue Jays said in a statement. "The Blue Jays want to reaffirm that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated."

Escobar's suspension began immediately, with the 29-year-old stood down from Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays said Escobar would participate in an outreach initiative to help educate society about sensitivity and tolerance to others based on their sexual orientation.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) issued a statement backing the decision.

"Today's actions show that MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays are committed to creating an environment that all fans and families can enjoy, not a place where discriminatory language and anti-gay attitudes are accepted," GLAAD President Herndon Graddick said.

guardian.co.uk

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