Richard Chaplow Suspended After Allegedly Using Anti-Gay Slurs at Robbie Rogers

The United Soccer League suspended Orange County Blues midfielder Richard Chaplow for two games after he allegedly directed anti-gay slurs toward Los Angeles Galaxy winger Robbie Rogers during a match last Saturday.

The USL confirmed the punishment, which also included a fine, on its official site Wednesday after completing its investigation into the matter, citing "offensive and abusive language." The USL Disciplinary Committee spoke with match officials, members of both clubs and used video review during the probe.

"The USL has zero tolerance for this type of behavior," league President Jake Edwards said. "We cannot, nor will we, condone any language that is counter to the values we have instilled throughout the USL."

Rogers, an openly gay 29-year-old United States international, is rehabbing with the Galaxy's reserve side in the USL after suffering an ankle injury. He brought attention to the incident in a Facebook post after the match over the weekend:

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In the heat of the last fifteen 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. I quickly became enraged, I spent the drive home wishing I had channeled my inner [Zinedine] Zidane and punched or head-butted this player even though I knew punching this person wouldn't have helped either of us, my team, or the greater cause of advancing equality in sports.

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Chaplow told Bob Williams of the Telegraph after word of the ban became public that he didn't use any homophobic language during the exchange:

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I have been banned for swearing at a player, not homophobic slurs. At no point in the statement is a homophobic slur made reference to, and the simple reason for this is it didn't happen.

I swore several times at Rogers for over reacting to a foul, but at no time was the language homophobic and no evidence has been found of this, hence the way the statement has been wrote.

I feel it's important that people realize what the ban is for. I have a close family member that is openly part of LGBT community so to suggest I'm homophobic is ridiculous and there is no evidence to support this.

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Chaplow released a further statement on Twitter:

Rogers, who three years ago became the first openly gay male athlete for a professional sports team in the United States, added the anger eventually dissipated and he hopes these types of stories don't prevent other gay athletes from coming out.

"Listen, only you know when and how it's best for you to live your truth and share your story, but each one of you that chooses to make this courageous step is not just vastly improving your own life but literally saving others," he concluded on Facebook.

Rogers has won two MLS Cups, one with the Columbus Crew and one the with Galaxy, and was also named to the league's Best XI squad in 2008. He's also earned 18 caps with the U.S. national team, scoring two goals while representing the Red, White and Blue.

His next step will be proving he's returned to full match fitness to bring himself back into contention for a spot with the Galaxy's first team after the injury setback.