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Noah apologises for anti-gay insult to fan

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-23 16:47

Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah reacts near the end of play during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals NBA basketball series against the Miami Heat in Miami, May 22, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MIAMI - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has apologised for an anti-gay slur made to a Miami Heat fan during his team's 96-85 playoff defeat on Sunday.

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Noah appeared to make an almost identical comment as the one Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant used to a referee last month - Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA.

"I apologise," Noah told reporters. "The fan said something to me that I thought was disrespectful, and I got caught up in the moment, and I responded.

"I said some things that I shouldn't have said. I was frustrated and I didn't mean any disrespect to anybody."

While NBA officials declined to comment on the incident on Sunday, the league has taken a strong stance since the Bryant incident, which was heavily criticised by gay rights groups.

During Sundays' game, the league broadcast commercials featuring players urging fans not to use slang terms for gays as insults.

New York born Noah is the son of former French tennis player Yannick Noah.