New York attorney general tells NFL to stop asking players if they are gay

A coach from an NFL team asked a prospective player if he "likes men".

Eli Apple (in white) reportedly was asked if he was gay at this year's NFL Scouting Combine. (Getty Images)

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent a letter to the National Football League this week saying he is "deeply concerned" after a coach recently asked a prospective player is he was gay.

Atlanta Falcons assistant coach Marquand Manuel reportedly asked Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple at the Scouting Combine, "So do you like men?" Mr Manuel has publicly apologized to the player and Falcons coach Dan Quinn has said his staff was sent to a league-approved counselor, according to CBS New York.

"I write today with serious concerns regarding the persistence of conduct at league-affiliated recruiting events that may violate New York state law concerning sexual orientation discrimination, and specifically regarding reports of an incident at this year's Scouting Combine that appears nearly identical to the incident which triggered my office's inquiry to the league (in 2013)," Mr Schneiderman wrote to the head of NFL human resources.

Read the New York attorney general's full letter here. The NFL is headquartered in Manhattan and falls under Mr Schneiderman's jurisdiction.

In its 2013 inquiry, the attorney general's office found no specific violations, but it began raising awareness of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

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