It will be a long time before we see a footballer wearing something like this.
Greg Louganis. John Amaechi. Billy Bean. Mark Bingham. Billie Jean King. Esera Tuaolo. Gareth Thomas. Justin Fashanu.
Gay athletes all, they are also bound by the feelings of distress that they experienced while hiding their sexuality. Many of them were suicidal at times due to conflicted feelings at having to hide their “true selves.” In the history of all sports, relatively few athletes have come out as homosexual and those that have done so either: (1) participated in less popular sports; or (2) waited until retirement to make their announcement.
After Fashanu came out as the first openly gay footballer he never again played above League Two and went on to commit suicide several years later. While terribly sad, his end was not surprising as he was subject to plenty of abuse on and off the pitch.
The true face of homophobia can be seen at stadia around the world as supporters taunt players with chants and players even use such language against their opponents. Graeme Le Saux was notoriously abused by players such as Robbie Fowler and David Beckham for being “a thinking-man’s footballer” with little interest in the laddish drinking culture of his teammates. To this day one of the worst things one man can say to another on the pitch (or off, in many instances) is that he is “a poof”, or that he plays “soft” or “like a woman.” Managers use such language to motivate their own players and impugn the manhood of opponents, while referees and teams alike are removed from competition simply due to their sexuality.
It’s no surprise that homophobia is prevalent in sports (and moreso in men’s sports), but the Football Association had appeared to be making steps in the right direction. The FA had hired advertising/marketing agency Ogilvy to produce an anti-homophobia ad as part of the “Kick It Out” campaign, but things have not gone according to plan. When Ogilvy suggested that maximum impact would come from having prominent players appear in the ad, the players and their agents declined to participate forcing a quick change of plans.
While the agency redesigned the ad, Peter Clayton, the openly-gay chairman of the FA’s Homophobia in Football advisory group, said that he understood the reluctance to appear, noting: “A player coming forward to appear in it would feel he might ignite more vitriol.” The new ad, seen below, features a man using homophobic slurs in his everyday life and then at the football grounds to demonstrate that the behavior is unacceptable regardless of your surroundings. Unfortunately, the FA have put the release of even that video on hold, pending further discussion of whether or not it is potentially offensive (and in spite of the fact that email invitations were already sent out for an event at Wembley for the campaign).
The ad is certainly brusque in its depiction of the homophobic slurs used, but perhaps that is exactly what is needed to finally affect a sport that has been described as having “institutionalized homophobia.” Indeed, after rugby union fullback Gareth Thomas came out in December, publicist Max Cliffored advised two of his high-profile football clients to keep their homosexuality secret because football was even more entrenched in homophobia than the stereotypically macho world of rugby. Many individuals in football continue to deny that the possibility even exists, as exhibited by former Scotland international Phil Pat Nevin who argued that football was wrongly derided as homophobic. Nevin’s brilliant (sic) take was that there are actually very few, if any, gay footballers and it is for that reason, rather than fear of a homophobic backlash, that there are no openly-gay players.
Clifford, for his part, believes that it will yet be a while before a player comes out of the closet while still playing. He argues that it is most likely to be an experienced player, one who is towards the end of a well-regarded career, who will take that step.
Sadly, that is almost certainly what needs to take place if there is to be even the slightest positive change in the world of football. The truth is that a lesser-known or less well-regarded player would still be subject to an incredible amount of abuse during matches from supporters and opposing players alike, but it would be fairly inconceivable to call Wayne Rooney “a poof.”
Look how hard it has been to combat racism, even in 2010. Could you imagine an NFL campaign against racism? Even in the 1970s or 80s? “Kick It Out” was established in 1993!!! This is a long climb, I fear.
Great ad that.
Talking of Fash..
He was a terrific player. This was goal of the season in 1980 and one of my faves of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3q8_sxd-o
David James did a piece on this for the Guardian three years ago it’s a good read.
I’m waiting for NFL players to get outed and have them be meatheads, the fanbase will implode in closeted rage.
There was an interview this week on five live – Gareth Thomas interviewing Donal Og Cusak the Irish Hurler who came out last year – really interesting: about 30 minutes in or so.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qn48j
Again this week on Five Live:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/sport/football/index.shtml?FeedItem=5034&Play=true
You can listen to various FA people say that homophobia is not a big issue in football – ridiculous.
Donal Og and Gareth Thomas are huge names in their sport and rugby in Wales and Hurling in Ireland is akin to Football in England and Baseball in the US in terms of how the sports are part of the intrinsic fabric of every day life. There have to be gay footballers – and the fact that they can’t come out is shameful.
The English FA, rightly in many ways, pat themselves on the back for what they have done to help eradicate racism but to do nothing on homophobia shows their is still a long long way to go.
Oh – and Fash was a superb player – deserves to be remembered for that goal and other great moments – not for dying on the same day as Tosh from the Bill!
And as every Chelsea fan will tell you it is Pat Nevin – Phil Neville (almost namesake) has less skill in his whole body than Pat had in his left toe. That being said – his comments on gay footballers are rubbish!
oops! not sure why I had Phil Neville on the brain
@ballisround66
Tosh is dead? WTF!
Peter Tosh is dead too. You’re next, Daniel.
Good post NYK
And thanks for the James article, Georger. Never would have pegged him as eloquent.
I work with kids and one of things that always shocks and discourages me is the rampant homophobia. For most of them it’s as simple as the idea of two boys kissing being icky. I always correct their language and try to teach them something without being preachy, but at the end of the day, they are still 8. Hopefully with experience and age, they’ll learn.
To see whole institutions run and supported by adults acting the exact same way, only often more malicious, is disturbing to say the least.
The numbers don’t lie. We all know for a fact there are gay footballers. The only reason we don’t know who they are specifically is because there is an active, anti-homosexual culture surrounding sport.
And while I agree that it will take a famous pro coming out to really sway this thing, I think the reactions of one of more famous, heterosexual teammates may be equally as important.
-There Are No Options for Gay Footballers
Of course there is, its called Liverpool… or is that just the fans,…
dont care… this is more of the same feelgood bs that they try to push that no one cares about.
stamp racism out… fair play (hahahahaha) and so on.
but feel free to promote the idea that two guys f**king each other is ;normal; all you want. its no excuse to hurl abuse at someone but its by no means normal to the majority of people.
its your right to kiss another mustachoied dude on the lips, its my right to feel like puking when you do.
why is your right more important to mine.
heck, go around england and ask the muslim chaps you see how they feel about this topic, youll see how your liberal agenda means nothing to many.
there’s no point in arguing your stupidity, NB. Yes, you have a right to puke upon seeing it. But where do you get off on thinking that roughly 10-12% of the population is somehow “wrong”/immoral/whatever you choose to call it, when evolution (look it up) has somehow kept this group alive for hundreds of generations? Somehow, they are more successful than your personal hatred?
Go back to your little hole, and join those muslim chaps who hate reality…
Also, NYK, nicely done piece. Congrats.
I’m sure gay footballers can swallow tolerance no matter how “disgusted” it makes people. I’d think it’s the outright bigotry that has them worried.
I’ve had literally hundreds of gay sexual encounters and they’ve never felt normal.
Good piece, including the links. Le saux’s was interesting.
In holland, we’ve had a number of gay referees, actually. Although that was a while ago and im pretty sure at the time they caught abuse for it, retrospectively they are generally regarded as among the finest ref’s we’ve ever had. Recently, a fourth official came out in a magazin, saying that he wouldnt care if people from the stands abused him about this sexuality. he’d rather hear that than somebody singing about his mother (which happens a lot here)
what I dont understand is why the FA’s dont try to stamp this out the same way they try it with other misbehavious by fans. you hear one homphobic or racist chant, you play your next home game in an empty stadium.
I believe that there have been several Gay NFL players to come out. What is truly funny is how Jimmy the Greek comes to mind when thinking about racism or Homophobia… It puts into a weird light the differences of America and the UK… We are much more tolerant today than in 1985 of Race and Homosexuals but still cant deal with nudity and sex in general the way the Home country does.
i always enjoy reading your stuff