There would be homosexuals playing among the large number of men who play football, including in Dutch professional football, otherwise all demographic statistics around the world would no longer be correct. But see: ,There are no gays in football, football is for men, not for sissies. Gays are a-sporty, homosexuals have no motor skills for football., Just a few statements made by well-known Dutch trainers. And it is also clear to supporters. There are no gays playing in our club. And the facts seem to confirm it, because there has never been a footballer in the Netherlands who came out during his career, but later. Wesley Garden, ex-footballer of Helmond Sport from the first division, confessed to being homosexual after his sporting career. Yet it could be that there are gay professional football players, but who dares to come out of the closet in this tough sporting world and therefore be able to withstand the harsh and belittling consequences.
Football without gays seems demographically impossible
There seems to be no room for gays in football
Football has traditionally been a macho world. And in that world there seems to be no room for gays. Football has developed over the years and is still developing. But it has always stood and still remains rock solid on one point: dealing with homosexuality in this sport. Demographic statistics actually say that there should also be homosexuals in football, but not one famous professional footballer has yet taken the step to come out. In other sports, homosexuality is no longer a taboo. Skater Ireen Wüst and gymnast Jeffrey Wammes are examples of this.
Why wouldn’t a professional football player dare to come out about his homosexuality?
Of course we don’t know the real reason, because there are no gays in football. It seems clear that this comment is sarcastic. But a number of examples may make it clear what a coming out could bring about for a professional football player:
The Feyenoord Legion ,We are not gay after all,
Source: Knurftendans, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Former Feyenoord goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier had to wear a pink goalkeeper’s jersey from shirt sponsor Kappa in the 2002/2003 season. The Rotterdam legion was furious and showed this with loud chants ,We are not gay after all, and other expressions. The supporters got their way and Zoetebier got a different color shirt. What comments would a Feyenoord player receive from supporters if he came out about his homosexual orientation?
Ex-Ajax coach Frank de Boer ,Gays are a-sporty,
Frank de Boer made a big slip when he said in a BNN promotional video for ‘FC Gay’ that gays are a-sporty and have remarkable motor skills. When there were indignant reactions to this statement, he tweeted that football is also for gays. His comment was allegedly taken out of context.
The football public in general ,Homooo homooo,
In most stadiums it is almost normal for some of the supporters to treat a player of the away team en masse to a chant: ,Homooo, homoo,. These supporters often defend themselves by saying that these slogans are not intended to be discriminatory.
Italian striker Antonio Cassano ,No fags in the Italian team,
During the 2012 European Football Championship, a journalist claimed that at least two gay players played for the ‘Azurri’. Italian striker Antonio Cassano was asked to respond to this. Out of his mouth came a startling response: ,I hope not. Gays don’t play here. No fags in the Italian team. If they are there, that’s their business.,
Brian Clough’s trainer to Justin Fashanu ,Why do you keep going to that damn fagot kit,
Justin Fashanu was so far the only famous footballer to admit to being gay. From 1981 he was a successful player in the English Premier League. After rumors, he admitted to being gay in 1990. His brother, also a professional footballer, said in an interview: ,My gay brother is a pariah,. His trainer shouted, ,Why do you keep going to that damn faggot?, The audience treated him with anti-gay slogans. Justin couldn’t take it anymore and quit football. He was now wanted in the US for allegedly molesting a 17-year-old boy. Justin had enough. He committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage. The American police had already stopped the investigation due to lack of evidence.
The KNVB wants to break the taboo on homosexuality in football with the gay emancipation plan
The KNVB has invited various parties for a round table discussion: The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF), the gay interest group COC and Wesley Garden, an ex-footballer from Helmond Sport from the first division who confessed to being homosexual after his sporting career. The KNVB first wants to inventory the problems in amateur football with the discussion partners and then come up with a plan. A gay emancipation plan with two goals:
- To get homosexuals who want to play football, but don’t dare, to play football.
- Amateur football players who are gay, but do not dare to come out of the closet.
We are now working hard on the action plan. This includes encouraging the arrival of confidential counselors at clubs or instructing amateur managers on how to discuss homosexuality. René Van Soeren of the COC hits the nail on the head with the comment: ,If we want to prove that football is a popular sport, then everyone should be able to practice it freely., Everyone is actually waiting for the first gay top footballer. Such a star can be an example for gay youth who dream of a career. So: Will the first gay top footballer please stand up now?