Italy's Cassano fined for gay slur at Euro 2012

NYON, Switzerland (AP) -- Italian soccer star Antonio Cassano has been fined for his comments about gay players at the European Championship.

European soccer's governing body says Friday it fined him $18,250 for his "discriminatory press statement" at an official media event in Poland last month.

Cassano said at the time he hoped there were no homosexual players on the Italian national team. He then used a derogatory word to describe gays.

When a reporter suggested there were gays on the team, Cassano appeared at a loss for words before saying, "That's their problem, but I hope not."

Cassano can appeal the decision by UEFA.

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