Nigeria Footballer Who ‘Attacked’ Gays Apologises, Deletes Posts After Blackpool Teammate Came Out Public

• Marvin Ekpiteta had criticised the gay community back in 2012 and 2013, but his teammate at Blackpool has now come out as one
• The Nigerian footballer has rushed to delete all his homophobic tweets and has gone ahead to tender an apology
• According to Ekpiteta, working with wide and diverse people has seen him develop and grow as a person

A Nigerian footballer Marvin Ekpiteta has taken to social media to apologise for his historical remarks against gay after his Blackpool teammate came out as one.

On Monday, Jake Daniels came out to become the first openly gay male footballer while still playing since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

It left Ekpiteta embarrassed as it countered his tweets from 2012 and 2013 when he blasted the gay community.

It was gathered as per SunSport that Ekpiteta left three clapping emojis in response to the news in 2013 that Nigeria had outlawed gay marriage.

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In the same year, he said it was “disgusting” and “ridiculous” that TV soap Hollyoaks had five gay characters.

But he has now apologised and subsequently deleted his historic homophobic posts after his teammate came out as one.

He further wrote on Twitter:

“Today, social media posts I made in 2012 and 2013 have been highlighted,' the defender said in a statement on Twitter.

“I want to wholeheartedly apologise for the offensive and completely inappropriate language I used, and for the sentiments I expressed.

“As a footballer, and in the years spent in work, before I became a professional player, I've been fortunate to have worked with a wide and diverse range of people. Throughout this period, I have developed and grown as a person.

“I am embarrassed by the comments I made as a 17-year-old, nearly a decade ago, which do not in any way reflect the values I hold now or the beliefs I have as a person or as a team-mate.”

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Fashanu recalls how he treated his brother for declaring himself homosexual

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that former Wimbledon of England striker John Fashanu has disclosed that the way he treated his brother after he publicly declared himself as homosexual, remains one of his biggest disappointments.

In a chat with Joseph James Nantomah on the YouTube programme The Metaverse, Fashanu, who began his professional career at Norwich City, said he is disappointed in how he treated his brother, Justin, who passed away in 1998 - having committed suicide.

The Athletic reports that John Fashanu publicly reprimanded Justin for speaking openly about his sexuality.