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Soccer player fined for anti-gay comments

Antonio Cassano of Italy celebrates with his son following the Euro 2012 semi-final match at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on June 28, 2012.Cassano has been fined more than $18,000 by UEFA for his comments about homosexuals during the playoffs. UPI/Chris Brunskill
Antonio Cassano of Italy celebrates with his son following the Euro 2012 semi-final match at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on June 28, 2012.Cassano has been fined more than $18,000 by UEFA for his comments about homosexuals during the playoffs. UPI/Chris Brunskill | License Photo

MILAN, Italy, July 20 (UPI) -- The governing body for European soccer has fined an Italian player more than $18,000 for his comments about homosexuals.

UEFA said a disciplinary commission fined Italy and AC Milan forward Antonio Cassano $18,262 Friday for responding to a reporter's comment during the Euro 2012 tournament about the possibility of homosexual players on the team by saying he hopes everyone on the team is straight, ANSA reported Friday.

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The commission said Cassano also used a derogatory term for gay men during the interview.

Cassano has apologized for his comments, saying: "Homophobia is a sentiment that does not belong to me."

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