TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Sounders defender Marc Burch says the suspension he received for using a homophobic slur during a playoff game last season needed to be harsh.

Burch spoke with reporters after practice on Tuesday for the first time since receiving a three-game suspension last November for using “unacceptable and offensive language” in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake. Burch was forced to sit out both games of last season’s Western Conference Finals against Los Angeles and will miss Saturday’s season opener against Montreal.

Burch says he can’t make up for what he said — which was caught by television cameras — and is focused on proving that is not who he is.

Burch also says he believes MLS will be the first league to accept an openly gay player.