London: Football's governing body FIFA on Wednesday criticised Nigeria coach Eucharia Uche for branding homosexuality as 'dirty' and admitting she forced lesbians out of her team.
"FIFA is against all forms of discrimination," Tatjana Haenni, FIFA's head of women's competitions, told German television channel ARD.
Haenni said FIFA will be talking to Uche about her comments and reminding the coach of the governing bodies statutes.
In a mission statement, FIFA says it wants to use the sport in 'overcoming social and cultural obstacles for women with the ultimate aim of improving women’s standing in society'.
"We are here at a FIFA event and will point out that it would be best to express oneself neutrally," said Haenni.
Uche sparked controversy in a New York Times interview ahead of the women's World Cup, which started last Sunday, in which she called homosexuality 'dirty' and insisted it was 'spiritually and morally very wrong'.
After Nigeria lost their opening Group A game 1-0 to France on Sunday, Uche said she has acted to remove any lesbians from the Super Eagles.
"Yes, the lesbians in our team were really a big problem," she said having taken over as Nigeria's coach in 2009.
"But since I'm coach of the Super Falcons, that has been cleared up.”
"There are no more lesbian players on my team.”
"I cannot tolerate this dirty life."
Defending champions and hosts Germany play Nigeria on Thursday in Frankfurt am Main and have declined to comment in Uche's remarks.
Germany reserve goalkeeper Ursula Holl is married to a woman and first-choice shot-stopper Nadine Angerer is openly bisexual.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 12:19