Sirens ASC have issued a formal statement following an incident during the Women’s K.O. Final match against San Giljan, played on 28th July 2025. The response comes after a San Giljan player filed a report claiming she was subjected to homophobic language during the match.
In the statement, Sirens acknowledged the incident, stating that:
“It has been brought to our attention that during the game some words with a homophobic connotation were said by Sirens players which are not acceptable in society, and which have deeply hurt the player.”
The club expressed regret over the remarks and emphasised the importance of protecting LGBTQI+ athletes from all forms of abuse:
“We have a duty to protect LGBTQI+ athletes from any verbal or any form of attack.”
Sirens also recognised the emotionally charged nature of sport but made it clear that such behaviour has no place in the game:
“While the nature of sport often includes emotionally charged moments, we recognise that this is no place for such comments.”
The club confirmed that the players involved have reflected on the situation and expressed remorse:
“The players involved have reflected on the situation, and have expressed regret if any words used were interpreted in a way that caused personal hurt.”
Looking ahead, both Sirens ASC and San Giljan ASC committed to ongoing education and respect among athletes, stating:
“We support discussions within the ASA to further strengthen its Statute and Disciplinary Code with clearer guidelines that explicitly address all forms of discrimination, including homophobia.”
They also urged the ASA to take further steps to create an inclusive sporting environment:
“We also encourage ASA to consider introducing initiatives that promote a more inclusive sporting environment for all.”
The joint message from both clubs ends with a call for unity:
“We hope that, together, we can move forward from this episode in a way that reinforces our collective values and strengthens our sporting community.”
