Civil Liberties

Toronto Baseball Player Suspended over Gay Slur

Will miss three games and attend sensitivity training

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Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar apologized Tuesday for playing a recent game with a homophobic slur written in Spanish under his eyes, an action that resulted in a three-game suspension.

Several pictures posted online showed Escobar with the message written on his eye-black stickers, which are often worn under the eyes to reduce the sun's glare.

The team announced the suspension after Escobar and team officials met with representatives from Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association. Escobar, flanked by general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell at an afternoon news conference, apologized for his actions.