BBC Apologizes For ‘Inappropriate’ Question Asking Morocco Women’s Team Captain About Homosexuality

BBC has apologized after one of its reporters asked the Morocco Women's national team captain an "inappropriate" question.

The tournament organizers, FIFA, have shut down the question of the BBC World Service correspondent to Morocco's caption Ghizlane Chebbak.

BBC Reporter's 'Inappropriate' Question to Morocco Women's Team Captian

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: The logo on the front of BBC Broadcasting House is seen through a televison camera viewfinder on July 10, 2023 in London, England. Last week, the Sun newspaper published allegations that a BBC presenter had paid tens of thousands of pounds to a teenager in exchange for explicit photos. The broadcaster has said that a male presenter has been suspended while it conducts an investigation. Leon Neal/Getty Images

As per a report by The Daily Mail, Morocco is the first-ever Arab country to have qualified for the FIFA tournament.

With the historical qualification of Morocco, a BBC reporter went on to ask Morocco's team caption Chebbak about homosexuality. It is worth noting that same-sex relationships, either for men or women, are illegal in the Arab country. In fact, homosexuality is subject to at least three years of imprisonment.

Given that, according to CNN, a BBC World Service reporter asked Chebbak a question that dives into the homosexuality of football players. The correspondent interrogated the team caption with this question: "Do you have any gay players in your squad, and [what is] life like for them in Morocco?"

The reporter also pointed out that "gay relationship" is illegal in Morocco. However, the press conference moderator blocked the reporter's question. The organizer says, "Sorry, this is a very political question, so [we will] just stick to questions relating to football."

The BBC correspondent responded, saying, "No, [it is] not political." The reporter argued, [It is] about people, [it has] got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question."

BBC Apologizes For Reporter's Question to Morocco's Team Captain

Morocco Ghizlane Chebbak — Germany's midfielder #18 Melanie Leupolz (R) controls the ball next to Morocco's forward #07 Ghizlane Chebbak (L) during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group H football match between Germany and Morocco at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park, in Melbourne on July 24, 2023. WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images

In the wake of the mounting outrage, the BBC swiftly apologized after one of its reporters interrogated Chebbak. CNN reports that a BBC spokesperson acknowledged the inappropriateness of the question. The network says, "We recognize that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress."

According to The Times UK, Morocco's team captain Chebbak is the daughter of the iconic football player Larbi Chebbak. She shrugged off the question by smiling and shooking her head. The news outlet notes, citing Outsports, that roughly 12 percent of the players in the women's tournament are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Athletic reporter Steph Yang slammed the question as inappropriate. Her recent tweet stresses, "This is not an appropriate question for a player and would have endangered the players themselves."

Meanwhile, Muslim CBC journalist Shireen Ahmed reiterated that the BBC reporter "was completely out of line."

The Times Online pointed out that critics have accused Morocco of covering up the criminalization of homosexuality in the country.