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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

"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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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

[Rjk]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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

[life on mars]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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]

Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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?