USL Soccer Team San Diego Loyal forfeited a Championship play-off game last night after their manager Landon Donovan walked his team off in protest after an alleged homophobic comment.

Ex-USA international Landon Donovan said his side "would not stand" for bigotry after an alleged homophobic comment was aimed at openly gay midfielder Collin Martin.

An opposition player from Phoenix Rising was accused of making the comment just before half-time in their second-tier USL Championship game – a match they were leading 3-1 and subsequently ending their chances of reaching the play-offs.

Loyal players returned after the break but walked off when the referee blew his whistle.

The club took to Twitter to outline their stance on the matter, saying: "In the first half a member of Phoenix Rising used a homophobic slur directed at Collin Martin. In response we have decided to walk off the pitch in protest," the club posted on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SanDiegoLoyal/status/1311547001373245440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1311547001373245440%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2F54367938

Manager Landon Dononvan also backed his players for walking off, saying: "Last week we made it loud and clear that we do not stand for racism or homophobia. Nothing has changed this week."

"If they're not willing to act, then we have to act. Our guys, to their immense credit, said we were not going to stand for this. They were very clear in that moment that they were giving up all hopes of making the play-offs, even though they were beating one of the best teams in the league.

"They said it doesn't matter. There are things more important in life and we have to stick up for what we believe in. I have tremendous pride in this group and this organisation."

https://twitter.com/SanDiegoLoyal/status/1311553192711184385