Oxford City have released their veteran striker Lee Steele from his contract after the 38-year-old made homophobic comments on Twitter.
Steele, a regular in the side over the past couple of seasons, made the remark about former Wales international rugby player Gareth Thomas. The openly gay ex-rugby union and rugby league star is currently appearing on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother, and Steele wrote on the social media website: "I wouldn't fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockmya**e".
In a statement, the club said that it had parted ways with the player following a board meeting at its Court Place Farm ground. The statement read: "The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club."
Steele counts Shrewsbury, Oxford United and Leyton Orient among his former clubs. He was also part of the Brighton squad that won promotion from the old Division Two in the 2001/2 season. The Justin Campaign, which fights homophobia in football, welcomed the club's decision to sack the striker.
"While it is never pleasing to see someone lose a position in a club or company, we fully applaud the club’s decision to terminate the player’s contract," they said in a statement.
"For far too long homophobic comments like the ones Steele made have been defended using the erroneous argument that such remarks as simply harmless 'banter'. Oxford City’s brave decision shows us that things are, slowly, moving in the right direction and that football is starting to take homophobia, biphobia and transphobia seriously."
