Reporter slammed for asking Moroccan soccer player if she has gay teammates

The BBC has issued an apology after a reporter covering the Women’s World Cup asked the captain of the Morocco women’s national team to out her teammates.

During a press conference on Sunday ahead of Morocco’s match against Germany, a BBC reporter asked team captain Ghizlane Chebbak about her country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

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One player felt forced to go along with it because “no one wants to jeopardize the opportunity to play at a World Cup.”

“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 reporter asked.

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A moderator immediately stepped in, telling the reporter that, “this is a very political question, so we’ll just stick to questions relating to football.”

“No, it’s not political,” the reporter responded. “It’s about people, it’s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.”

Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak’s almost in disbelief reaction to the question, says it all.

A completely unethical out of line question that poses safety concerns to the players he asking to be named.

Bizarre push followed.
pic.twitter.com/MKk84O774E

— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) July 24, 2023

Chebbak removed her earpiece and appeared to laugh the question off. But according to The Independent, other reporters at the presser were “visibly shocked” by the question. The Athletic’s Stephen Yang reported that “some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed.”

“From a harm reduction perspective, this is not an appropriate question for a player and would have endangered the players themselves,” Yang tweeted following the press conference.

One reporter here asked directly if there are gay players on the Moroccan squad, given same-sex relationships are illegal in Morocco. From a harm reduction perspective, this is not an appropriate question for a player and would have endangered the players themselves.

— Steph Yang | Horrible Soccer Goose (@thrace) July 23, 2023

Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Morocco under Article 489 of the Moroccan Penal Code. It is punishable by three to five years in prison.

Responding to Yang’s tweet, CBC Sports reporter Shireen Ahmed, who was also at the presser, slammed the BBC reporter’s question. “The reporter was completely out of line,” she wrote. “Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary.”

“Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line,” Ahmed added. “The captain cannot out players nor comment on policy [because] it could be dangerous for them, too.”

“The question also reeks of privilege from a journo who should know better. I told him that – emphatically,” she continued. “This isn’t an issue of journalistic freedom. You can inquire about social laws in different places without endangering people. Journalists have an obligation to be fair, accurate and practice with care. If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.”

I was at this press conference. The reporter was completely out of line. Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary. The question was waved off by a FIFA media officer moderating but it shouldn't have been asked. https://t.co/csZ0McTq4k

— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) July 23, 2023

Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line.
The captain can not out players nor comment on policy bc it could be dangerous for them, too.

— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) July 23, 2023

FIFA representatives reportedly addressed the BBC reporter immediately after the press conference.

On Tuesday, CNN reported that a BBC spokesperson had apologized for their reporter’s question. “We recognize that the question was inappropriate,” they said. “We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.”

Morocco is the first Arab nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup. The team lost their match with Germany Monday in a 6–0 defeat.