San Diego Loyal SC soccer player Collin Martin shared his side of the story involving an alleged homophobic slur directed at him during his team’s match Wednesday night against Phoenix Rising FC.

Martin released a statement on Twitter, saying, “The response that followed from my coaches, teammates, and the entire @SanDiegoLoyal organization was truly moving. They had my back and wanted to make a statement that we aren’t going to stand for this hate in our game.”

The statement said: “In last night’s game against Phoenix Rising, an exchange between Junior Flemmings and myself escalated to the point of him calling me a ‘(expletive) boy,’ which is a homophobic slur …, ‘ the statement read in part.

Martin compared the phrase to another slur he suggested is more commonly known in the United States.

“This is not the first time I have heard this homophobic slur, however, it’s the first time in my eight-year playing career that a slur has been directed at me during a game,” said Martin, who is openly gay.

“During the next stoppage in play, I tried telling the ref that a gay slur had been directed towards me, however he got confused and thought that I called him gay – hence why I was mistakenly given a red card thereafter. Once it was cleared up with the ref, as well as explaining to the fourth official and my coach what had transpired, Flemmings came over and told me that he knew of my ‘situation’ (I’m an out gay man) and that he didn’t call me a slur. At this point it is clear to me that he was backtracking and attempting to deny what he said.

“Why would he say that slur to me if he knew I was gay?

“What followed next is what I truly want to focus on and that is the response of my coaches, teammates, and the organization. Their collective decision to walk off the field in solidarity and forfeit the match speaks volumes of their support for me and what this organization is standing up to. Ultimately, I hope this can be another example that we have a long way to go in educating ourselves and kicking hate out of the game.”

MORE: Phoenix Rising FC coach under fire for reaction to alleged homophobic slur vs. San Diego

The incident in question occurred at San Diego’s Torero Stadium Wednesday in the USL Championship match between Phoenix Rising FC and San Diego Loyal SC.

Video from the match captured an exchange between Phoenix Rising FC coach Rick Schantz, San Diego Loyal coach Landon Donovan and a referee.

Late in stoppage time of the first half the referee — who later admitted confusion over who used the slur and what was said — showed an eventually rescinded red card to Martin, a midfielder for San Diego.

Loyal players immediately swarmed the referee in protest. 

“Ref, you got it wrong,” one player could be heard in video from the match. 

As the ref explained what happened to Donovan and Rising FC coach Rick Schantz, a San Diego player approached Schantz: “Coach, your player called my gay teammate a (expletive) boy.” 

Donovan, visibly upset while learning the information, told Schantz “this is beyond soccer.” To which Schantz replied, “Come on, man, don’t make a big scene.” 

“We have to get this out of our game,” Donovan said. 

“It’s got nothing to do with racism,” Schantz responded. 

Donovan said: “It’s not racism, they’re calling him gay. It’s homophobia.” 

 “They’re competing,” Schantz said.

San Diego Loyal SC forfeited the match, which they were leading at the time, 3-1.

Rising FC forward Junior Flemmings issued a statement Wednesday night acknowledging that he was the Phoenix player accused of using the slur, but strongly denying that he did.

“At no point did I say a homophobic slur towards Collin Martin. I do not know Collin personally, but I respect all of my opponents equally, Collin included,” Flemmings said, in a statement posted on Twitter.

“I am disappointed by San Diego’s actions this evening as I have been mauled and ridiculed online with no opportunity to defend myself.

“I stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ movement.”

Schantz issued a statement Wednesday night after he was caught on the video appearing to downplay the alleged use of a homophobic slur from one of his players.

“At the start of halftime of the Phoenix Rising FC match with San Diego Loyal SC, I was heard on video asking San Diego’s Head Coach Landon Donovan how long he has been part of soccer,” Schantz posted on Twitter. My question was in reference to Donovan’s behavior on the field with the referee, and in no way was I excusing any alleged homophobic behavior from my players.”

The USL Championship Soccer League issued a statement:

“We are aware of the alleged use of a homophobic slur in tonight’s match between San Diego Loyal SC and Phoenix Rising FC. Foul and abusive language of any type has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated in USL matches,” the league statement said. “An investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding the incident and more information will be provided as soon as it is available.”

MORE: San Diego players walk off field in protest against Phoenix Rising FC, claim homophobic slur used

Donovan sounded off on the incident in a video posted by the team’s Twitter account late Wednesday.

“Our guys, to their immense credit, just said, ‘We’re not going to stand for this,'” Donovan said. “They were very clear in that moment that they were giving up all hopes of making the playoffs, even though they were beating one of the best teams in the league, handily. But they said that doesn’t matter. There’s things more important in life and we have to stick up for what we believe in. And so they made the decision to walk off.

“The players, in the heart of the moment, in the passion of the moment, still wanted to play. They were kicking Phoenix’s ass, and that’s a great feeling as a soccer player. But if we want to be true to who we are as a club, we have to speak and we have to act.” 

Phoenix Rising FC released a statement saying “Phoenix Rising is investigating the claim of a homophobic slur being used by one its players who has vehemently denied these allegations. Phoenix Rising stands with the USL in rejecting and punishing any homophobic behavior.”

USA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaca and The Arizona Republic’s Lorenzino Estrada contributed to this story.