Professional footballer declares that he is gay

[Taunton Blue Genie]

"Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo has come out as gay, becoming the only current top-flight male professional footballer in the world to do so."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59060323

It would be a brave man to do the same in some countries where greater bigotry is ubiquitous.

[JamesWales]

"Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo has come out as gay, becoming the only current top-flight male professional footballer in the world to do so."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59060323

It would be a brave man to do the same in some countries where greater bigotry is ubiquitous.

Good for him. It's absurd that more footballers don't feel free to come out.

Like you said, it's different in all countries. I would add to that that I think the problem is greater in the changing room than the terraces.

[lardy]

Good for him. It's absurd that more footballers don't feel free to come out.

Like you said, it's different in all countries. I would add to that that I think the problem is greater in the changing room than the terraces.

Not sure it's absurd, it's pretty understandable. There's not much to gain.

The greater problem is the terraces rather than team mates for me, without question. Look at all the songs Brighton fans get; now imagine what would happen to an openly gay player. Thousands of people all agreeing that what someone does in their own private life is their business, when there's a chance that an opposition player could be distracted? I doubt it.

Whereas its a lot less likely a player would be confronted face to face by a team mate when probably 90% of the squad would go to his defence.

[JamesWales]

Not sure it's absurd, it's pretty understandable. There's not much to gain.

The greater problem is the terraces rather than team mates for me, without question. Look at all the songs Brighton fans get; now imagine what would happen to an openly gay player. Thousands of people all agreeing that what someone does in their own private life is their business, when there's a chance that an opposition player could be distracted? I doubt it.

Whereas its a lot less likely a player would be confronted face to face by a team mate when probably 90% of the squad would go to his defence.

Yes, absurd probably isn't the right word. I guess I mean statistically absurd, given how many professional footballers there are in the world etc. It doesn't paint football in a good light.

Personally, I really can't see mass abuse from the terraces tbh. It would be clamped down on very strongly.

[lardy]

Yes, absurd probably isn't the right word. I guess I mean statistically absurd, given how many professional footballers there are in the world etc. It doesn't paint football in a good light.

Personally, I really can't see mass abuse from the terraces tbh. It would be clamped down on very strongly.

I don't say there'd be mass abuse, but it would be a lot stronger than from team mates, which I would expect to be pretty much nothing.

[PontBlue]

It'll be good when we can get to a stage where announcements like this aren't News.

[Rjk]

I don't say there'd be mass abuse, but it would be a lot stronger than from team mates, which I would expect to be pretty much nothing.

not in this country, there are other countries with a far less accepting attitude towards homosexuality.

[the other bob wilson]

Not sure it's absurd, it's pretty understandable. There's not much to gain.

The greater problem is the terraces rather than team mates for me, without question. Look at all the songs Brighton fans get; now imagine what would happen to an openly gay player. Thousands of people all agreeing that what someone does in their own private life is their business, when there's a chance that an opposition player could be distracted? I doubt it.

Whereas its a lot less likely a player would be confronted face to face by a team mate when probably 90% of the squad would go to his defence.

I think you’re right, but those who go to football matches should reflect on why it is that sportsmen and women feel comfoteble about coming out as gay in every other major sport in the world.

[lardy]

Yes, absurd probably isn't the right word. I guess I mean statistically absurd, given how many professional footballers there are in the world etc. It doesn't paint football in a good light.

Personally, I really can't see mass abuse from the terraces tbh. It would be clamped down on very strongly.

Also, what does strong clamping down look like? I remember the three black England players who missed penalties against Italy receiving a lot of racial abuse and not much clamping down.

[lardy]

I think you’re right, but those who go to football matches should reflect on why it is that sportsmen and women feel comfoteble about coming out as gay in every other major sport in the world.

The people who will reflect on that aren't the problem, unfortunately.

[JamesWales]

not in this country, there are other countries with a far less accepting attitude towards homosexuality.

I think this is the issue and may be part of the issue in the changing room

I honestly think from the terraces there would be no real issues - within the context that football crowds give abuse all the time, I dont think collectively someones sexuality would make a difference apart from isolated incidents.

[Feedback]

Not sure it's absurd, it's pretty understandable. There's not much to gain.

The greater problem is the terraces rather than team mates for me, without question. Look at all the songs Brighton fans get; now imagine what would happen to an openly gay player. Thousands of people all agreeing that what someone does in their own private life is their business, when there's a chance that an opposition player could be distracted? I doubt it.

Whereas its a lot less likely a player would be confronted face to face by a team mate when probably 90% of the squad would go to his defence.

the songs are aimed at brighton fans en masse. I doubt many football fans would target one footballer directly asking whether he is the postman or letterbox.

[Toadstool]

I thought one member of the current Wales squad had come out as gay…

[life on mars]

It's strange as there is a big support for other causes by football why not support the gay community in a better way or is it only certain injustices we can see

[JamesWales]

the songs are aimed at brighton fans en masse. I doubt many football fans would target one footballer directly asking whether he is the postman or letterbox.

Do Brighton fans still get those songs?

[2b2bdoo]

Good on the lad, I think when the others have come out they had retired or were closing to retiring. This kids still young and why shouldn’t he.

As above hopefully one day there will be no need for players to make such announcements.

[Canton Kev]

Good for him. It's absurd that more footballers don't feel free to come out.

Like you said, it's different in all countries. I would add to that that I think the problem is greater in the changing room than the terraces.

Gotta disagree with you there. It’s much harder to insult someone to their face when you work with them 40+ hours a week than it is to be part of a crowd of thousands anonymously abusing someone.
Footballers are younger on average than the people in the stands and not to tar everyone with the same brush, the younger generation are typically more understanding and open about homosexuality than older people.

[lardy]

the songs are aimed at brighton fans en masse. I doubt many football fans would target one footballer directly asking whether he is the postman or letterbox.

It seems I'm in a minority, and most of us think fans would be absolutely fine about it.

So why, I wonder, is the tally of openly gay footballers in this country still zero? Obviously it's something else. Any suggestions?

[JamesWales]

Gotta disagree with you there. It’s much harder to insult someone to their face when you work with them 40+ hours a week than it is to be part of a crowd of thousands anonymously abusing someone.
Footballers are younger on average than the people in the stands and not to tar everyone with the same brush, the younger generation are typically more understanding and open about homosexuality than older people.

Yeah, fair point and don't get me wrong..I agree with you really. I just think the 'changing room banter' type atmosphere is a fear for players, more than how a crowd would react.

I agree, in practice you would like to think players would be fine, I can just imagine its an intimidator environment in which to come out into.

Either way, this is clearly a bigger issue for football specifically, as it doesn't seem to matter so much in other sports.

In practice, I think any player would get far more support than opposition, and most importantly, most wouldn't care either way, which is how it should be.

[Croesy Blue]

the songs are aimed at brighton fans en masse. I doubt many football fans would target one footballer directly asking whether he is the postman or letterbox.

Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole still get songs sang about them being gay and both have been married and retired from football.

Players are still getting sent racist messages and in other countries get racist things chanted at them during champions league games.