The Federation of Gay Games has joined the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation and lobby groups, including AllOut, in submitting a formal letter to the president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Sepp Blatter, expressing concern about reports that the Nigerian Football Association has banned lesbians from playing soccer in the country.
News of the ban follows 2011 media reports that the coach of the Nigerian team participating in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany had said she excluded players presumed to be lesbians from competition.
The organisations behind the letter said there had been inaction by FIFA following that situation, and a flippant response to concerns over their decision to host future World Cups in homophobic countries.
They also said they believe that FIFA must now take firm action or confirm its reputation as a homophobic organisation, in contradiction to its bylaws and the Olympic Charter.
