Volleyball team fined for fans' homophobic chants

SAO PAULO (AP) - A Brazilian sports tribunal has fined a men's volleyball team about $30,000 because its fans taunted a player with homophobic chants during a match.

The tribunal fined Cruzeiro on Wednesday because of chants made by supporters during a match against Volei Futuro on April 2 in the city of Contagem.

Volei Futuro player Michael, who is gay, complained after he was taunted throughout the match. At times, the entire gymnasium was chanting against him.

Several groups came to Michael's defense and the fans' actions became a topic in Brazilian media.

In the following matches, fans honored Michael and held demonstrations against homophobia.