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Thread: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

  1. #1

    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.

  2. #2

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie View Post
    "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.

  3. #3

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
    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.

  4. #4

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by lardy View Post
    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.

  5. #5

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
    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.

  6. #6

    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.

  7. #7

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by lardy View Post
    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.

  8. #8

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by lardy View Post
    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.

  9. #9

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
    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.

  10. #10

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
    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.

  11. #11

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    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.

  12. #12
    Feedback
    Guest

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by lardy View Post
    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.

  13. #13

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

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

  14. #14

    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

  15. #15

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Feedback View Post
    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?

  16. #16

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    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.

  17. #17

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
    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.

  18. #18

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Feedback View Post
    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?

  19. #19

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Canton Kev View Post
    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.

  20. #20

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Feedback View Post
    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.

  21. #21

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesWales View Post
    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.
    I can see your reasoning but I think the changing room camaraderie would take priority over abusive “banter”. I’ve never been in a professional football changing room but back when I was playing school/weekend football I think a player would’ve been fully supported had they come out as gay and any comments, etc from the edgier lot would’ve been nipped in the bud by the team.

    I agree there would be much more support and praise for the player than abuse and opposition when it comes to how fans in the stands would react but I can definitely imagine there would be a decent chunk of abuse even if it’s from the minority.

  22. #22

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Croesy Blue View Post
    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.
    This is the reality, and this is why nobody wants to come out.

    It's ok for us to say it'll be fine, no one cares, it's tomorrow's chippie paper. The few who are actually wearing the shoes don't want to come out, have absolutely no intention of doing so, and that should tell its own story.

  23. #23

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by Canton Kev View Post
    I can see your reasoning but I think the changing room camaraderie would take priority over abusive “banter”. I’ve never been in a professional football changing room but back when I was playing school/weekend football I think a player would’ve been fully supported had they come out as gay and any comments, etc from the edgier lot would’ve been nipped in the bud by the team.

    I agree there would be much more support and praise for the player than abuse and opposition when it comes to how fans in the stands would react but I can definitely imagine there would be a decent chunk of abuse even if it’s from the minority.
    This is correct. The squad would back their team mate, and anyone who didn't would be the outcast. That's how team sport works (unless the gay player was already unpopular).

    The suggestion that the changing room is the problem not the terraces is mad to me, although I'm also quite sure most fans have bigger things to worry about.

  24. #24

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    Quote Originally Posted by life on mars View Post
    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
    Well yeah it is only certain injustices, I don't think it's realistic to expect football to protest every single injustice in the world, do you?

    They have to be selective but as it goes they do try and highlight this one, including the rainbow laces campaign https://www.premierleague.com/RainbowLaces. Lots of work still to do of course.

    One of your more subtle BLM shaped whatabouteries this but as with every single other time, it's a massive swing and a miss.

  25. #25

    Re: Professional footballer declares that he is gay

    I really don't think it would be a problem in the changing room these days.
    It would take a very brave man to risk the abuse he would get from the terraces and on social media over here though.

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