Soccer Star Fined $126K For Underwear Flash, Latest In Series of Sports Misconduct Issues

Danish soccer star Nicklas Bendtner

In the most recent in a string of unsportsmanlike conduct issues to befall professional sports, the UEFA, governing body of European football, has fined Danish player Nicklas Bendtner $126,000 for flashing the name of an unauthorized sponsor on the waistband of his underwear after scoring a goal. Bendtner also received a one match suspension.

Paddy Power, the Irish gambling company whose logo appeared on Bendtner's underwear, is not an official sponsor of the championship.

There is some debate and controversy over the severity of the punishment. Critics of the UEFA decision note that teams whose fans displayed banners with racially abusive language were fined far less than half of Bendtner's penalty.

I don't follow European football, but certainly the harshness of sports fines should correspond to the egregiousness of the infraction, as well as to the player's salary. Consider these recent incidents of misconduct in other sports, both of which are far more serious than showing one's boxers.

This past weekend, in the normally genteel world of tennis, Argentine player David Nalbandian kicked an on-court advertising placard in anger and injured a linesman, drawing blood from the official's shin. For his swift angry kick, Nalbandian was disqualified from the championship match (which he was winning), forced to forfeit $57,000 in prize money, and fined $12,500.

In the more typically violent (and far richer) NBA, Metta World Peace's flagrant elbow to the head of James Harden in April cost him a 7-game suspension and about $348,000 in lost salary.

Not sure what's going on in the sporting world, but perhaps professional athletes need to be reminded of several common childhood lessons.

1. Keep your pants on.
2. Don't break anything that's not yours.
3. Keep your elbows to yourself.

Turn of Phrase - Pro Soccer Player Comes Out

David Testo
Gay Pro Soccer Player

"We knew David's orientation prior to him joining our club in 2007. During his career in Montreal he has always been a professional and dedicated player to this club, on and off the field. His decision to go public must have been a difficult one, and we respect it."

- From Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact soccer team, on the recent coming out of professional soccer player David Testo.

Testo was an Impact midfielder from 2007-2011.


Several thoughts crossed my mind when I read about the soccer player's bold announcement.

1. Well done, David Testo!
2. If soccer were more popular, this would have been much bigger news.
3. When will other gay professional athletes sack up and come out? (There have been a few brave souls, but not enough, especially from the big three - football, baseball, basketball.)

Lastly, good for Joey Saputo and his sports organization. We can only hope that when more American athletes eventually make the tough decision to announce their gayness that our professional sports teams and executives will be as gracious and supportive as the Canadians have been.