Soccer: French journalist suspended by TV company after homophobic comments

(Please note this story contains language in para 4 that readers may find offensive)

PARIS (Reuters) - French journalist Denis Balbir was suspended by TV channel W9 after he made homophobic comments off-air during coverage of Olympique de Marseille’s 5-2 win at home to RB Leipzig in their Europa League quarter-final return leg on Thursday.

TV footage leaked on the internet showing Balbir making the homophobic remarks about the German team after the game.

“Following the comments made off-air by Denis Balbir after the OM v RB Leipzig game, for which he publicly apologised, the W9 channel has decided to suspended him provisionally from commentating on the competition,” W9 said in a statement on Friday.

The TV footage showed Balbir saying: “I’m happy for those faggots who were arrogant after the first leg.”

OM, who lost 1-0 in the first game, advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate victory. They will face Salzburg.