Iker Casillas apologises after a tweet from his account read "I'm gay", which was quickly deleted and claimed to be a result of hacking.
The tweet gained over 100,000 likes before being deleted, and sparked a reaction from former Spain team-mate Carles Puyol.
What happened?
The controversy began when Iker Casillas' official Twitter account posted a message that read "I hope you respect me – I'm gay".
Carles Puyol responded with a tweet that read "It's time to tell our story, Iker", which was later apologised for as a "clumsy joke".
Iker Casillas then clarified that his account had been hacked, and apologised to his followers and the LGBT community.
Why it matters for Iker Casillas
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo labelling the messages "beyond disrespectful".
Cavallo, who announced he was gay in October 2021, said that coming out in football is a difficult journey and that it's disappointing to see role models making fun of it.
What comes next?
Equality campaigners Stonewall UK released a statement saying that it's disappointing to see homophobic "jokes" being made at the expense of LGBTQ+ players and fans.
The statement added that words matter, and that Stonewall will continue to fight for a better world where LGBTQ+ people can play sports as themselves.
Iker Casillas, 41, has been a prominent figure in Spanish football, making over 500 appearances for Real Madrid and leading Spain to their first World Cup triumph in 2010.
He left Real Madrid to join Porto in 2015, and announced his retirement from professional football in August 2020, after suffering a minor heart attack in 2019.
The incident has highlighted the importance of respecting the LGBT community, and the need for football players and officials to be mindful of their words and actions.