USA defender refused to play for national team because of LGBT shirt

Following a recent interview by 25-Year-Old, North Carolina Courage defender, Jaelene Hinkle, it has come to light that last summer she refused to play for the US women’s national team due to the LGBTQ pride Jersey that was being used in fixtures, honouring LGBT pride month.

Hinkle told the side that it was her Christian beliefs that had prevented her from wearing the jersey, “ I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey.”

Hinkle plays for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer league, and since her withdrawal from the squad, she has not been called to play on the national team.

She believes that due to her strong Christian beliefs that she is, “Essentially giving up the one dream little girls dream about and their entire life, and that I’m saying no to. It was very disappointing.”

Despite her controversial decision, she has been widely supported by both teammates and her club manager Paul Riley.

Following their latest fixture on Wednesday versus the Portland Thorns, Riley commented on the matter saying that Hinkle has, “got a good heart” and that it was, “not an easy thing for her.”

However, at the same fixture, she was vehemently booed on Wednesday when her name was read out prior to a Carolina game following the broadcasting of her interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

This decision has come as a particular shock to US Women’s football, as over the years the team has included various openly gay and bisexual players, including Olympic gold medalist and world record holder for most international goals by either male or female players, Abby Wambach.