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Yunel Escobar Eye Black: Reported Homophobic Slur On Toronto Blue Jays Player Sparks Strong Reactions (GALLERY)

REACTION: 'Teammates Should Have Policed' Eye-Black Slur
Flickr: james_in_to

Toronto Blue Jays player Yunel Escobar jumped into the headlines Monday night when a keen observer spotted what can be translated as a homophobic slur written under his eyes in a game a few days earlier, sparking outrage and debate on social media and in our comments.

The 29-year-old Cuban shortstop, in pictures circulating Monday night, was seen with the words "TU ERE MARICON." That phrase can be translated to mean: "You are a faggot."

While some on social media are speculating that Escobar was a victim of a prank, others were not so kind.

"At this point, the Jays should send Escobar home for the season," @TaoofStieb tweeted. "And frankly, his teammates should have policed this."

Taryn D. commented, "I'm pretty disgusted with Yunel Escobar, but I'm just as disgusted with the people saying it's no big deal & (sic) we should just ignore it."

On HuffPost Canada, some readers thought the club should take swift action against Escobar: "The only solution to this guy- unemployment. You think there aren´t a thousand kids out there that can play like him?" wrote bigpizzaballs.

"The Toronto Blue Jays do not support discrimination of any kind nor condone the message displayed by Yunel Escobar during Saturday’s game. The club takes this situation seriously and is investigating the matter," the team said in a statement. The team's general manager will be speaking to media on Tuesday in New York. Escobar is expected to attend.

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