Nashville SC midfielder Patrick Yazbek (right) argues with Austin FC midfielders Daniel Pereira (center) and Owen Wolff (left) during the first half of the MLS match at Geodis Park on Aug. 25. | Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Outsports has learned that a Major League Soccer player used the homophobic f-word on his league debut, leading to a two-match ban.

MLS confirmed in a statement last Thursday that Nashville SC midfielder Patrick Yazbek had violated the league’s Anti-Discrimination Policy during a home match against Austin FC the previous Saturday, but the league has not revealed the nature of his offense.

Speculation online and in the media, particularly in Yazbek’s native Australia, led to reports that the player had been punished for “dropping the c-bomb” — the swearword “c*nt” — with many fans questioning why that word would be considered discriminatory.

However, a source with knowledge of the league process and the investigation into Yazbek’s case has told Outsports it was determined that the player said the word “f**got” on the field of play, resulting in the ban.

When asked for a response to this, an MLS spokesperson declined to comment.

“At this time, MLS does not have any further comments on this topic,” they told Outsports.

Patrick Yazbek
Patrick Yazbek has made three first-team appearances in all competitions for Nashville SC since signing for the club in July. | Casey Gower-USA TODAY Sports

The Anti-Discrimination Policy is a joint initiative with the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) and has been in operation since the start of the season in February. 

The two organizations say it is “the first of its kind in professional sports… centered on restorative practices, prioritizing education, prevention, training and cultural awareness.”

The MLSPA declined to comment when contacted by Outsports. Responses have also been sought from Nashville SC and Yazbek’s agency, Football House Plus.

It is the latest example of an MLS disciplinary outcome in which only limited details are released publicly. This opacity has increased since the Anti-Discrimination Policy was introduced, often leading to conjecture and misinformation.

What happened with Patrick Yazbek in the Nashville SC match?

Yazbek started in his first MLS match for Nashville SC at Geodis Park on Aug. 25, having made two previous Leagues Cup appearances for the club earlier in August.

The 22-year-old from Sydney, who has to date won one international cap for his country, signed for the Tennessee club in July from Norwegian outfit Viking FK for a reported fee of $3.2m.

In the 30th minute, with the score 0-0, he was called for a foul on opposing midfielder Owen Wolff. With referee Rosendo Mendoza watching on, Yazbek and Wolff exchanged words, with the latter’s teammate Dani Pereira then also interjecting.

Mendoza then spoke to the two team captains, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman and Austin’s Alex Ring.

Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman, Austin FC's Alexander Ring and referee Rosendo Mendoza
Referee Rosendo Mendoza (right) talks with captains Walker Zimmerman and Alex Ring during the Nashville SC vs Austin FC match at Geodis Park. | Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

The official then headed for the touchline to conference with Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan and his Austin counterpart Josh Wolff, the father of player Owen Wolff, according to a report by Broadway Sports Media.

After seven minutes had elapsed from the initial foul by Yazbek, the player was substituted off the field by Callaghan, to the surprise of the Nashville fans.

The hosts conceded the opening goal towards the end of the first half and went on to lose the match, 2-0. They are bottom of the Eastern Conference table, having lost nine of their last 10 games.

What happened next?

Nashville SC issued a statement on social media soon after the final whistle that said the club was “aware of the allegations that have surfaced regarding the use of offensive language by one of our players” and that the incident was under investigation.

Callaghan declined to comment on the matter post-game, while Josh Wolff told the media that “protocol” was being followed by the league.

On Thursday, Aug. 29, Callaghan spoke to the media ahead of Nashville’s weekend fixture at Orlando City and was asked how he addressed the Yazbek incident.

He referred to “some things that aren’t in your control” and how they can be “great learning lessons” but offered no further updates relating to the player specifically.

Later that same day, MLS announced that Yazbek had been handed a two-match ban, ruling him out of the games at Orlando and at Atlanta United on Sep. 14.

“Yazbek is also required to participate in a restorative practice program,” continued the statement.

“In making decisions under this Policy, MLS considers many factors, including the player’s immediate acceptance of responsibility for harm caused by the misconduct, eagerness to begin a process to repair it, and cooperation with the league’s review.”

When MLS announced its new Policy earlier this year, it said that “public statements or announcements in connection with these matters will be limited” — and it has as yet provided no further information on what Yazbek said or did against Austin FC.

However, with fans and media understandably trying to learn why Yazbek was suspended — particularly because he was subbed off against Austin, rather than shown a red card — speculation has escalated. 

A Fox Sports article published in Yazbek’s homeland Saturday claimed that a Football Australia spokesman had confirmed that the comment made by the player “was not a racist slur.”

A News.com.au article Sunday then “revealed” that the young midfielder had “dropped a c-bomb on his opponent” and claimed that was the cause of his ban.

However, Outsports’ source says Yazbek’s ban was in fact a consequence of him having been found by the MLS investigation to have used the homophobic f-word.

In recent months, Outsports has reported on five young Australian male athletes (four in Aussie rules and one in rugby league) who have been suspended for use of the homophobic f-word during matches.

Outsports contacted Football Australia to ask for a response to the assertion that Yazbek had used homophobic language. The national governing body declined to comment.

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Comment: ‘Streisand effect’ helps nobody

MLS, in conjunction with the MLSPA and Black Players For Change, introduced its Anti-Discrimination Policy in response to several on-field incidents of player-on-player racist abuse that had taken place in the preceding 20 months, as reported by ESPN.

Even before this, MLS disciplinary cases were often shrouded in mystery, but that has only increased under the new policy, particularly if the player and his club agree to take part in resolution via restorative practices.

In July, Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango — still the MLS Golden Boot joint leader — was banned for four games for “violating the league’s Anti-Harassment Policy.” RSL said in a statement that it “fully cooperated” with the Arango investigation and no further details were provided.

There has been a similar information vacuum around the Yazbek incident, with journalists who cover Nashville SC left as perplexed as the club’s supporters, amid some Australian media reports suggesting the use of the “c-bomb” led to the ban.

This process of elimination cannot be healthy for those involved in tackling discrimination, for the players involved or the game itself.

Back in June, MLS Commissioner Don Garber told Outsports’ Cyd Zeigler that the League is “committed to ensuring that any gay players feel welcomed and supported.” With Robbie Rogers and Collin Martin having both had positive experiences while being out as gay in MLS in recent years, the League has more than a few credits in the bank on LGBTQ inclusion.

It has also engaged constructively with fan groups and the media in a bid to tackle the anti-gay “puto” chant and has encouraged Pride Month visibility.

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However, the clunky implementation and lack of transparency in its Anti-Discrimination Policy risks undermining that good work.

What could be seen as an attempt to protect a young player’s reputation has created a “Streisand effect” instead.

In its statement earlier this year, MLS said: “MLS and the MLSPA are establishing a Policy Advisory Board to continuously discuss the policy’s effectiveness and identify ways to build an even more inclusive league.”

Communications around on-field discipline that provide clarity to media and fans, thus discouraging guessing games and misinformation, should be a pressing issue for the Policy Advisory Board.

As for efforts to help make gay and bi players in MLS feel welcome and supported — and there will be some who are out to teammates, and some who are closeted — there are certainly positives to be taken from restorative practices.

However, obscuring disciplinary outcomes to such an extent that even the word “homophobic” is omitted when anti-gay slurs are used on the field is a dangerous game that can easily create falsehoods and misreporting.

As the aphorism goes: “Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.”