Football's world governing body Fifa has written to the Nigerian Football Association over claims lesbians are now banned from playing football there.
Dilichukwu Onyedinma, chair of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), was quoted as making the statement.
"Any player associated with it will be disqualified," she is quoted as saying.
While contravening Fifa's anti-discrimination policies, the situation is made more complicated because homointercourseuality is illegal in Nigeria. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20887170)
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/57095000/jpg/_57095242_jex_1253192_de27-1.jpg)
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Activist Rashidi Williams: 'It is very difficult to live as a gay man in Nigeria'
Currently, a Same-intercourse Marriage (Prohibition) Bill that specifically outlaws same-intercourse unions is awaiting a signature from president Goodluck Jonathan to go in to law.
If that occurs, gatherings of homointercourseuals or any other support for gay clubs, organisations, unions - whether in secret or in public -will be banned, with same-intercourse couples facing up to 14 years in prison.
In a speech at the NWFL's recent annual general assembly, Onyedinma is reported to have said that lesbian players would no longer be eligible for the Nigeria women's national team and would "be sacked" from their club sides.
The Super Falcons have won the Africa Women's Championship eight times, but exited the 2011 Women's World Cup at the group stage and did not qualify for London 2012.
Also related to this story
- Inside Nigeria's secret gay club 02 Jan 2013 Africa (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world/africa/)
- Gay rights: Africa, the new frontier 07 Dec 2011 Africa (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world/africa/)
- Nigerian leaders unite against same-intercourse marriages 05 Dec 2011 Africa (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world/africa/)
Share this story Share this page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/modules/sharetools/share?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21702308&appId=sport)
- print (http://www.theinfostride.com/forum/index.php?print=true)
Via: BBC