The professional American football player Chris Larsen, who plays for the Ottawa Redblacks, has been suspended for his alleged involvement in the hospitalisation of a man in Hanlan Point, Toronto.

In a horrific attack 24-year-old David Gomez was held down by a woman while he was punched and kicked by two men in the face until he was unconscious. The attack took place on June 5 when Gomez said he was accosted by five people who hurled homophobic abuse at him before commencing their attack which left him with a broken nose, fractured hip, a shattered cheekbone and orbital bone, multiple lacerations, a chipped tooth and a concussion. 

After accusations against the player surfaced on social media, the ball was well and truly in the Redblacks court who currently have a rainbow logo in celebrations of Pride month leading them no choice but to suspend Larsen. 

Mark Goudie, CEO of the Redblacks’ parent company, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group said: ‘I don’t pretend to know all the specifics of this incident, but let me say this, the Redblacks and OSEG are proud of the role that we play in our community and we are committed to continuing to build an organization, both on and off the field, that reflects the values of our community. Diversity and inclusion are central to our organizational values and we will try our best to use our platform to help make acts of hate and violence, including homophobia, stop.”