German Soccer Agent Uses Antigay Slurs

The agent for German soccer captain Michael Ballack called the team members a "bunch of gays" in the run-up to their semifinals finish at the World Cup, and he said one of the players was "half gay."

The agent, Michael Becker, uttered the antigay slurs to the newsmagazine Der Spiegel, according to the Daily Telegraph.

"Writer Alexander Osang recounted an interview he had with Becker prior to the South African tournament in which the agent allegedly told him which of the players on the team were gay, making a reference to one who was 'half gay,'" the Telegraph reports.

Becker also said that a former national player was going to out a "bunch of gays" on the national football team.

The Telegraph reports that Becker has said he was misunderstood and called the interview unauthorized, but he has not denied making the remarks.

Ballack did not play in the World Cup because of an injury. The German team took third place, losing to champions Spain in the semifinal.

A German soccer coach, Rudi Assauer, was roundly condemned in March for saying that there was "no place" for gays in soccer.