The footballer who tweeted anti-gay insults at British Olympic diver Tom Daley has been suspended by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).
Daniel Thomas, a midfielder for the Port Talbot Town FC, was arrested in August following a tweet aimed at Daley and his diving partner Peter Waterfield. The 28-year-old caught flak July 30 for writing the pair “can go bum each other” with the hashtag #teamHIV.
Claiming he was a victim of a “misguided prank,” Thomas was suspended by the southwestern Wales–based club for one game. Thomas apologized “unreservedly” for the tweet from his still-shuttered Twitter account, @10DanThomas10. Thomas added that he doesn’t harbor any anti-gay sentiment.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case in September, ruling that Thomas’s tweets were simply “misguided” and “naive.” The CPS ruled that the tweet wasn’t a criminal offense.
FAW, a governing body in charge of Welsh soccer teams, ruled that Thomas’s tweet disparaged the league. In addition to his one-game suspension, the midfielder was fined £500. A Port Talbot Town FC spokesperson told BBC News that it accepts FAW’s decision.
“Overall, the use of social networking websites can be seen to be a positive influence on Welsh football,” a FAW spokesman said.
Photo via @tomdaleyismyhero/Hashgram