Football vs. Homophobia

1 in 6 of us identify as LGBTQI, yet, in the UK out of the 5000 professional football players in the sport there are no openly gay footballers. It's clear to say that football has a problem. Institutional homophobia lies at all levels of the game from the terraces to the boardrooms. Some clubs (and stewards at games) turn a blind eye as they have little interest and/or motivation to do much about it. In 2016-17 a Government report found that homophobia was worse than racism in the beautiful game.

So why is this? Partisan fans, people who have an aversion to things that they have no experience of, less visibility of LGBTQI, a vast number of supporters at higher-level games that need to change their minds about what is and what is not acceptable. Also dressing rooms that lack support are not 'safe spaces' for LGBTQI players to feel comfortable- it comes down to the old erroneous adage that gay players fancy all the straight players, being seedy and all about sex.

But the tide is changing. In 2016-17 Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign was seen by 12 million adults, 75,313 pairs of rainbow laces distributed in all areas of sport - fans/players/referees and officials and saw an 8% decrease in 18-35 year old sports fans thinking that homophobic language was acceptable. Despite drawing homophobic social media, it is making progress.

What about grassroots level? LGBTQI supporters groups / sponsorship at matches certainly improve visibility as the next generation become more commercially aware and are far more accepting. It also helps and supports LGBTQI teenagers with coming out and bullying. If grassroots clubs and Premier League clubs/ FA boardrooms work at it, they can meet in the middle.

The rugby legend Gareth Thomas helped to get an amended Football Offences Act through Parliament which now puts homophobia and racism on an equal footing. He is also shaping a new code of conduct of best practice called Pride In Football concerning fans shouting abuse and is getting clubs to sign up.

They've got the right idea in the US - 7 years ago the 'If You Can Play, You can Play' video project aimed to get fans to be more accepting of gay players in all sports and less tolerance of abuse was launched as has been a great success!

Earlier this year an unidentified Twitter account named 'The Gay Footballer' generated a lot of interest in the Press and social media drawing support and vitriol in equal measure. The account was shut down on the eve of his public coming out with the player stating that he '...wasn't strong enough to come out.' Fake account or not, it created a debate whether equality in football has been set back to the days where the footballer Justin Fashanu was the only out player in the game. He tragically took his own life as a lack of safeguarding procedures and pastoral care by the FA did not support and protect him.