Cardiff player apologises after making homophobic comments to police officer when arrested

Cardiff City player Mahlon Romeo apologises after making homophobic comments to a police officer when being arrested earlier this year.

He was cuffed up on suspicion of drink driving in February 2024, and has since pleaded guilty to drink driving and abusing a police officer.

The Championship outfit said they are dealing with the matter internally. Take a look below at what he had to say.

Mahlon Romeo issues apology after homophobic comments to police officer. Says ‘my actions that evening are of great personal disappointment’.

Club dealing with the matter internally. He has trained with the squad on first week of pre-season. https://t.co/GPGVCv3deC

— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) June 28, 2024

Mahlon Romeo has issued the following statement through the club website:

“I would like to sincerely apologise to the Club and its supporters for my actions on February 8th, 2024, which have caused hurt and distress.

“Those who know me closely know that I do not hold any prejudice against anyone based on their sexual orientation or sexuality.

“In the past I have worked hard to fight against discrimination and prejudice, and so my actions that evening are of great personal disappointment.

“At the time of the event, I wrote a letter to the police officer involved, unreservedly apologising for my comments and explaining that they do not reflect my personality, beliefs or historic behaviour.

“I deeply regret the course of events that occurred that night, and I would like to re-iterate my apologies to anybody who has been offended by the comments that I made.”

As per Wales Online, he said to officers at the station they were “all c***s” with the Crown Prosecution Service saying Romeo repeatedly called one officer “a gay c***”, “gay boy” and a “nonce” while using homophobic language “numerous” times in the moment.

Mahlon Romeo received a 14-month ban from driving at Cardiff Magistrates Court a week ago, after pleading guilty to an offence on Cefn Coed Road on the 8th of February 2024.

He had been found to have 58 micro grams of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, with the legal limit being 35 micro grams.

The footballer was disqualified from driving, was fined a total of £4,423, and made to pay £85 in court costs, as well as a £1,769 surcharge.

He also pleaded guilty to an aggravated public order offence for abusing the police officer.

Romeo was also ordered to pay the police constable £100 in compensation, and fined £3,317, with a £1,326 surcharge.

This came after Cardiff boss Erol Bulut said that Romeo and teammate Callum Robinson had been disciplined by the club, though decided not to explain the finer details of what happened, calling it an “internal” issue.

“I said at the start of the season, discipline and respect is the most important thing for me,” Bulut said in April.

“They were a little bit away from that.”

Romeo returned to the first team a week after those comments and started the last three games against Southampton, Middlesbrough and Rotherham.

Keith Morgan, chairman of the club’s supporters’ trust, said to WalesOnline: “We condemn any such behaviour from anybody. The fact it’s related to the football club and it’s somebody in the public eye makes it even worse because it sets a bad example. The supporters’ trust is very strongly against any form of homophobia and we find these reported offences deeply disturbing. We understand from the club’s website that they have an equality policy and we would hope they take appropriate action.”

Cardiff City, a partner of LGBT+ charity Stonewall, state via their website that they are committed to “eliminating discrimination” over sexual orientation, and at the time of his arrest, the club said they were supporting the Football v Homophobia campaign, taking “a clear stand against homophobia and transphobia so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful game”.

Romeo, son of fitness expert Efua Baker and music producer and musician Jazzie B, and brother to his actress sister Jessye Romeo, started out at the academies of Arsenal and Wycombe Wanderers before heading to Gillingham in 2012 on a two-year scholarship.

In January 2013, Romeo signed for then-Conference South side Dover Athletic on a youth loan, then went on to make his professional debut for Gillingham on the last day of the 2012–13 season as the Gills were crowned champions of Football League Two, a 3–2 away defeat at Burton Albion.

Romeo went to Millwall in 2015, Romeo and made a regular appearance in the first team by the second half of his first season.

He also played in the 2016/17 League One playoff final with Millwall winning against Bradford City 1–0 at Wembley Stadium to gain promotion to the Championship.

August 2021 saw him joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2021–22 season, made 41 appearances, then joined Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.

Twitter users reacted as the Cardiff player apologises after making homophobic comments to police officer when arrested…

@SloperBlues: He needs to go, simple as that. No room for bad eggs like that in the club.

@matthewblue1103: Get rid terminate his contract he’s useless a waste of money and a squad place.

@TheEdge65: “Romeo returned to the first team line-up just over a week after those comments, starting the final three games of the Championship season against Southampton, Middlesbrough and Rotherham United.”

@crochetjenny: Another case of rules for thee but not for me 😐

@BiltonFlips: Nice role model errrr not x

@DJVC8834: And this is the reason gay footballers don’t feel they can come out and be open about their sexuality. The sport is still homophobic in the men’s game.

@SergeantSleep: Sending the game backwards. No wonder more players don’t feel supported to come out.

@DingerEnjoyer: Just get rid

@GDParry1: Footballers and cars don’t mix.

@allsportjimmy: He’s rubbish, get rid.

@Coakley85: Why do these footballers think they are above the law, not as if they can’t afford a taxi if they want a few drinks. Get rid.