The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has launched an investigation into the hate speech directed at Barbra Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride.
The incident occurred during their 2-0 victory against Gotham FC on Sunday. A fan allegedly used hateful language towards her.
Gotham FC issued an apology to their opponents and to Banda, stating:
“This behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our league or our stadiums.”
“Stadium security swiftly intervened as soon as the incident was reported, directly addressing the individual and monitoring the situation for the remainder of the match.”
The NWSL expressed its support for the player with the following statement:
“We are committed to ensuring that our venues are safe and respectful environments for everyone, especially for the athletes who represent the very best of our sport.”
“Barbra Banda is both an exceptional player and a wonderful person. As the NWSL, we are immensely proud to support her as a member of our league.”
Previously, in 2024, Banda was named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. She also made history at the Paris Olympics, scoring 10 goals to become the highest-scoring African player in Olympic history.
Her team, Orlando Pride, currently sits at the top of the league this season.