Greece's Euro 2004-winning midfielder Vassilis Tsiartas was convicted this week for transphobia, a rare ruling handed down over a 2017 Facebook post.
The retired former AEK Athens and Sevilla midfielder was given a suspended 10-month prison sentence and a 5,000-euro ($4,991) fine by an Athens court.
The 49-year-old has vowed to appeal.
Ιn 2017 Tsiartas had called a gender redefinition law a "disgrace" in a Facebook post, adding: "I hope the first sex changes will be carried out on the children of those who voted for (it)."
"Legalise paedophiles too to complete the crime," he had added.
Tsiartas was capped 70 times and scored 12 goals for the national team, the high point coming in Portugal in 2004 when Greece belied their underdog status by taking the title.
