Footballer turned pundit Stan Collymore criticised for 'homophobic' tweet about simulation in football

Stan Collymore has drawn criticism for a "homophobic" tweet he posted to address the issue of simulation in football.

Referring to the contentious decision to caution Man City forward Sergio Aguero for tumbling in Southampton's penalty area on Sunday, talkSPORT host Collymore bemoaned the "many fairies going down like Devon Lock [sic]."

Devon Loch was the racehorse owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who famously and inexplicably fell over when he looked destined to win the 1956 Grand National.

Collymore's post was immediately panned by Football v Homophobia, a worldwide initiative created to tackle homphobia. "Whatever you think about diving," they argued, "homophobic abuse is unacceptable.”

A spokesman for the anti-discrimination group Kick It Out added:

“Only Stan Collymore himself would be able to clarify what he meant when using the word.

"There does need to be greater education around the use of such terminology, as ‘fairy’ has historically been used as a slur towards members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. It is important these sensitivities are recognised.”