Philadelphia Flyer Wayne Simmonds was caught on video calling New York Ranger Sean Avery a “f**king faggot” during a game.
The Associated Press reports:
Avery and Simmonds were at odds in the first period, and television cameras caught Simmonds jawing at Avery, appearing to utter the slur.
When Avery was asked by reporters after the game if Simmonds called him “what we think he called you,” he answered: “Yeah, yeah.”
Avery said he had “no idea” why Simmonds would make such a remark.
This marked the second controversy in two weeks for Simmonds, who is black. Last week, a banana was thrown at him from the stands during a pre-season game in London, Ont.
Simmonds didn’t deny using the slur toward Avery.
“Honestly, we were going back and forth for a while there,” he said, without providing details. “I don’t recall everything that I did say to him, but he said to me some things I didn’t like. And maybe I said some things that he didn’t like.
“I can’t recall every single word I said.”
ESPN adds:
Wayne Simmonds of Flyers will chat with NHL vice president Colin Campbell this morning for allegedly using a homophobic slur toward New York Rangers forward Sean Avery during a game last night.
Simmonds could face a $2,500 fine as per CBA limitations for fines in these cases.
Campbell is holding the call rather than Brendan Shanahan because the Simmonds scenario doesn’t fall under Shanahan’s “player safety” net.
After last night’s game, Avery said Simmonds called him a homophobic slur during the first period of the bitter preseason contest. A video replay showed Simmonds hurling the epithet toward Avery while on the ice near the Flyers’ bench. Simmonds said he did not remember everything that was said between him and Avery, but did not deny crossing the line.
Watch the video
