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CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 03:56 PM Jun 2014

Are there soccer players who have publicly come out as gay?

Watching the World Cup matches over the weekend and asking the male very progressive and avid soccer lovers in my family...they said they hadn't heard of one...I was wondering if there is still a real stigma in the sport for being gay, or it just isn't talked about for other reasons...

Anybody know?

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Are there soccer players who have publicly come out as gay? (Original Post) CTyankee Jun 2014 OP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2014 #1
Oh, what a sad story! CTyankee Jun 2014 #3
Robbie Rogers ChangeUp106 Jun 2014 #2
why so few? CTyankee Jun 2014 #4
soccer fans are down right horrid in many places dsc Jun 2014 #5
I saw a Dutch player/commentator on TV when I wondered about the sport's gay players... CTyankee Jun 2014 #8
There is an old saying. dilby Jun 2014 #9
Given that in Europe, black players are still regularly showered with bananas.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2014 #6
It is borderline impossible for the major soccer players in Europe to come out LittleBlue Jun 2014 #7
Why the hell is soccer so horrible on social issues? CTyankee Jun 2014 #10
Americans are very polite by comparison LittleBlue Jun 2014 #11
sheesh...no words... CTyankee Jun 2014 #12

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
3. Oh, what a sad story!
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:11 PM
Jun 2014

But do you think that is the reason?

I think it is odd in a world sport of such diversity that is professional soccer that coming out as gay would be suppressed...

ChangeUp106

(549 posts)
2. Robbie Rogers
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:09 PM
Jun 2014

of the LA Galaxy was actually the first pro athlete in North America to come out and the first to make an appearance in a game after coming out.

dsc

(52,130 posts)
5. soccer fans are down right horrid in many places
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:13 PM
Jun 2014

I do think a Dutch player came out some time ago. I have to leave to can't research to find it. I hope it gets better soon for this sport but right now this sport still have bitter racism in its fan base, forget about welcoming gays.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
8. I saw a Dutch player/commentator on TV when I wondered about the sport's gay players...
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:23 PM
Jun 2014

I also noticed that there are some gorgeous soccer players...we had some discussion of the differences/aliknesses of the players from various countries...I mentioned the Italian tradition of "fare la bella figura" which translates "make a good impression" but has a lot to do with the Italian esthetic and nothing really to do with one's sexual orientation nor gender.

I must say the Dutch player was a helluva good looking guy...and very smart, too...

dilby

(2,273 posts)
9. There is an old saying.
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:27 PM
Jun 2014

Football is a gentlemens sport played by hooligans and Rugby is a hooligan sport played by gentlemen. But yes Football fans are rabid in Europe and South America.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
6. Given that in Europe, black players are still regularly showered with bananas....
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:15 PM
Jun 2014

....and greeted with monkey sounds, I doubt that the soccer community is any more progressive on gay rights....

 

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)
7. It is borderline impossible for the major soccer players in Europe to come out
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:17 PM
Jun 2014

Unlike America, Europeans are known for chants directed at certain players. Which they will do for the full game if the player has somehow angered them (or if they have a good way of getting inside his head).

If a major European player came out as gay, he would get abused for the full 90 minutes. Which tends to destroy a player's confidence and thus his ability to play well. Hell, they chanted "Wenger is a pedophile" at the Arsenal manager just because he has a youth policy. Imagine if there was a gay player.

Plus he'd lose all his endorsements and the major clubs wouldn't sign him. Which is why it just isn't done.

 

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)
11. Americans are very polite by comparison
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 04:38 PM
Jun 2014

Soccer fans in Europe have supporters' clubs that are known as "ultras", or ultra fans. These are akin to religious fanatics. Ultras are often the ones responsible (in some way) when you hear about people dying at soccer matches.

Anyway, they tend to start malicious chants. They consider any tactic valid if it helps them win. And they're on top of the plain old homophobes, which are numerous around Europe. And not just in the southern parts. Bayern Munich is a German club. You think this is a cosmopolitan club in a progressive country, right?

Here was their poster against Arsenal (nicknamed "The Gunners&quot and player Mesut Ozil:



(And he's not even gay)

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