{"id":86650,"date":"2023-07-25T17:50:23","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T17:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/25\/bbc-apologises-after-reporter-asked-moroccan-captain-if-there\/"},"modified":"2023-07-25T17:50:23","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T17:50:23","slug":"bbc-apologises-after-reporter-asked-moroccan-captain-if-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/25\/bbc-apologises-after-reporter-asked-moroccan-captain-if-there\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC apologises after reporter asked Moroccan captain if there"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The BBC has apologised for an \u201cinappropriate\u201d question one of its reporters asked the captain of the Morocco women\u2019s national team.<\/p>\n

At a media conference ahead of Morocco\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup opener against Germany, a reporter from the British news organization\u2019s World Service asked Ghizlane Chebbak: \u201cIn Morocco, it\u2019s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what\u2019s life like for them in Morocco?\u201d<\/p>\n

The press conference moderator interjected, saying: \u201cSorry, this is a very political question, so we\u2019ll just stick to questions relating to football.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Vor dem Spiel gegen Deutschland wurde Marokkos Kapit\u00e4nin Ghizlane Chebbak gefragt, ob es homosexuelle Spielerinnen im Team gibt und wie es ihnen in ergeht \u2013 homosexuelle Handlungen sind in Marokko illegal. Eine FIFA-Sprecherin wies die Frage als “politisch” ab.#FIFAWWC<\/a> #GERMAR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/olvc9j1Q6b<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Deutschlandfunk Sport (@DLF_Sport) July 24, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not political,\u201d the journalist replied. \u201cIt\u2019s about people, it\u2019s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.\u201d<\/p>\n

A BBC spokesperson told CNN: \u201cWe recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was then one more question before the press conference was ended.<\/p>\n

According to Human Rights Watch, \u201cMoroccan law also criminalizes what it refers to as acts of \u2018sexual deviancy\u2019 between members of the same sex. Article 489 of the penal code punishes same-sex relations with prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to 1,000 dirhams ($91).\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Athletic\u2019s Steph Yang, who was in the room, said that \u201csome members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shireen Ahmed, a reporter for CBC Sports who was also in the room, wrote that the reporter was \u201ccompletely out of line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsking 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 cannot out players nor comment on policy bc [because] it could be dangerous for them, too,\u201d Ahmed wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

CNN has learned that a FIFA representative addressed the BBC journalist on site immediately after the press conference had ended.<\/p>\n

The Moroccan Football Federation did not immediately respond to CNN\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

Morocco began its 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup campaign with a heavy 6-0 defeat by Germany on Monday.<\/p>\n

World soccer governing body FIFA is allowing a variety of different armbands that highlight \u201ca range of social causes\u201d to be worn at the Women\u2019s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

During the tournament, team captains are each allowed to wear an armband chosen from eight different social causes, including gender equality, inclusion and peace.<\/p>\n

There is no explicit mention of LGBTQ rights in Women\u2019s World Cup armbands, beyond the themes of \u201cgender equality\u201d and \u201cinclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

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