Former Premier League Player Richard Chaplow Banned For Verbal Abuse of Robbie Rogers

Former Premier League player Richard Chaplow has been handed a two-match ban for verbally abusing Robbie Rogers.

Chaplow, who has previously represented West Brom and Southampton in the Premier League, has also been fined in the aftermath of the incident. This comes after Rogers issued a statement via social media claiming that an opponent had subjected him to a "gay slur" during a reserve match between LA Galaxy and Chaplow's current club, the Orange County Blues.

Rogers is one of the few openly gay players in world football, having publicly come out in February 2013. In his statement, he said: "In the heat of the last 15 minutes of the game, a player from the opposing team called me a 'queer' repeatedly. To be honest my initial reaction was one of shock. This is my fourth season back in the MLS and I've yet to hear another player use that or any other gay slur during a game."

He added that he was "sad that we still live in a time where this kind of intolerance still exists, in my sport and elsewhere."

While Chaplow has subsequently received a suspension, Orange County have claimed that having "pursued the investigation vigorously" they have found "no compelling evidence" that the language used was homophobic in nature.

United Soccer League president Jake Edwards has said: "We cannot, nor will we, condone any language that is counter to the values we have instilled throughout the USL." However, the USL's official statement stops short of referencing homophobia.

Meanwhile, Chaplow has strongly denied using homophobic language, though he admits to swearing at Rogers. He has said: "I have a family member that is part of the LGBT community. I fully understand the weight and pressures it brings.

"I would like to sincerely apologise to anyone who was offended by the profane language I used on the pitch in response to what I felt was an overreaction to a tackle. This was obviously not the correct way to represent myself or the club."