Greek soccer player gets 10 months in prison for calling transgenderism ‘abomination’: reports

A prominent Greek soccer player has reportedly received 10 months in prison after sharply criticizing child transgender surgery and suggesting that lawmakers should legalize pedophilia as well.

Vasilis Tsiartas "was sentenced by the Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of Athens to ten months in prison" for the remarks, which occurred in 2017. the Greek Reporter said on Saturday.

In Facebook posts that year, Tsiartas expressed wishes that ""the first sex changes are carried out on the children of those who ratified" a pro-transgender law in the Greek parliament. Tsiartas referred to the law as an "abomination." 

"Legitimize pedophiles, too, to complete the crimes," he added.

Athens-based lawyer Vassilis Sotiropoulos wrote on Facebook that the conviction represents "the first condemnation of publicly inciting violence or hatred (primarily) because of gender identity."

In a Twitter post, meanwhile, Tsiartas vowed to appeal the decision.