Volleyball Team Fined for Antigay Fans

A volleyball team in Brazil has been fined because its fans chanted homophobic taunts during a match against another team that included a gay player.

Cruzeiro will have to pay $30,000 after its April 2 game against Volei Futuro, according to the Associated Press. People in the stands, including at one point nearly all 3,000 spectators at the Contagem gymnasium, chanted a homophobic slur at a Volei Futuro player known as Michael.

The incident prompted him to come out as gay, which was followed by a rush of support by his teammates and Volei Futuro's fans. At a playoff game where his teammates woke pink shirts while warming up and support personnel wore rainbow-colored jerseys in solidarity with Michael. Fans clapped pink thunder sticks in support of Michael as Volei Futuro won a five-set match.