BBC apologizes for reporter’s ‘inappropriate’ question to Morocco women’s team captain
By Matias Grez, 4 hrs ago
CNN
Morocco's captain Ghizlane Chebbak was asked a question by a BBC reporter that the news organization said was "inappropriate." William West/AFP/Getty Images
The BBC has apologized for an “inappropriate” question one of its reporters asked the captain of the Morocco women’s national team .
At a media conference ahead of Morocco’s Women’s World Cup opener against Germany, a reporter from the British news organization’s World Service asked Ghizlane Chebbak: “In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”
The press conference moderator interjected, saying: “Sorry, this is a very political question, so we’ll just stick to questions relating to football.”
“No, it’s not political,” the journalist replied. “It’s about people, it’s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.”
The Athletic’s Steph Yang, who was in the room, said that “some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question.”
Shireen Ahmed, a reporter for CBC Sports who was also in the room, wrote that the reporter was “completely out of line.”
“Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,” she added.
“Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line. The captain cannot out players nor comment on policy bc [because] it could be dangerous for them, too,” Ahmed wrote.
“If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.”
CNN
By Matias Grez, 4 hrs ago
CNN
Morocco's captain Ghizlane Chebbak was asked a question by a BBC reporter that the news organization said was "inappropriate." William West/AFP/Getty Images
The BBC has apologized for an “inappropriate” question one of its reporters asked the captain of the Morocco women’s national team .
At a media conference ahead of Morocco’s Women’s World Cup opener against Germany, a reporter from the British news organization’s World Service asked Ghizlane Chebbak: “In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”
The press conference moderator interjected, saying: “Sorry, this is a very political question, so we’ll just stick to questions relating to football.”
“No, it’s not political,” the journalist replied. “It’s about people, it’s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.”
The Athletic’s Steph Yang, who was in the room, said that “some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question.”
Shireen Ahmed, a reporter for CBC Sports who was also in the room, wrote that the reporter was “completely out of line.”
“Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,” she added.
“Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line. The captain cannot out players nor comment on policy bc [because] it could be dangerous for them, too,” Ahmed wrote.
“If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.”
CNN
