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Football's Homophobia Hypocrisy

 Almost a decade ago, I went to watch a football match. Nothing too surprising about that, I was a season ticket holder at Nottingham Forest at the time. Before kick-off, I’d got chatting to the bloke sat in front of me. He seemed fairly polite and mild-mannered; a Sunday at the garden centre personified. We were mid-discussion about the wisdom of the team selection, before he excused himself, and turned to face the pitch. Casper Ankergren, the Brighton & Hove keeper, was kneeling in front of their fans, sorting out his boots. “OI ANKERGREN, I BET YOUR FANS FUCKING LOVE YOU SHOWING YOUR ARSE”, and in case there was any doubt, he added “COS THEY’RE ALL BENT”. He then turned back, and calmly continued discussing the form of Lewis McGugan.

That was nine years ago, but it’s also still now. With this as a backdrop, the recent news that Jake Daniels is the first professional footballer in England to come out in 32 years is an incredible act of personal bravery. The reaction and support from his teammates is heartening, suggesting that homophobia in the dressing room is certainly on the way out. Jake’s own massive step will help make it all that easier for the next player to come out as well. Visibility and representation are essential, underlined by the fact that Jake was inspired by Josh Cavallo, the Australian professional player who came out last year. Every player who makes this brave step makes it easier for the next, until it’s no longer something that needs to be announced.

The fact that it came out via a statement and interview with Jake on his own terms is certainly something. The lurid clamour for a gay footballer from the tabloids has led to countless stories of Premier League footballers on the verge of coming out. Certainly, it’s classic tabloid fodder – football and sex, with an added dash of homophobia; a transfer rumour linking a player with a move away from heterosexuality. The slightly self-congratulatory air of some of the football media, and the wider football world just reinforced the hypocritical stance of many of them take.

FIFA were one of the organisations to congratulate Jake. Reminder, that this year’s FIFA World Cup takes place in a country where homosexuality is illegal. A gay football fan wishing to stay in one of FIFA’s recommended hotels for the tournament would have to book separate rooms for him and his partner. Qatar 2022 ambassador David Beckham is surprised that a gay footballer has to come out in 2022, a kind of tin-earness that his vast sums of wealth should be able to help ameliorate. Russia1 (2018 host) has, amongst other discriminatory acts, been accused of turning a blind eye to the horrific beatings and murder of gay men and women in Chechnya. For an organisation that is so committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion within international football, they sure do keep making the mistake of hosting the World Cup in countries where LGBTQ+ people are likely to, at the very least, suffer discrimination.

Newcastle United also tweeted their congratulations to Jake on coming out. Reminder, Newcastle are majority owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment fund (Chairman: Mohammed bin Salman). The social media staffer may want to avoid any pre-season trips to Saudi Arabia though, given in 2020 Yemeni blogger Mohamad al-Bokari was sentenced to 10 months in prison for a social media post supporting equal rights for all in Saudi Arabia. Yet Newcastle are hardly the only petro-club to have an uneasy relationship with allyship and support for LGBTQ+ rights. Whilst Manchester City and PSG2 support initiatives such as rainbow laces or numbers locally, any gay fans back home in the UAE or Qatar may want to refrain from lacing their own boots up with rainbow laces anytime soon, given male homosexuality is illegal in both nations.

Let’s not kid ourselves though to think that homophobic hypocrisy is restricted to the vassal clubs of oil states with questionable human rights records. Chelsea fans are still consistently referred to as “rent boys” by opposition fans, allegedly following a tabloid story where a Chelsea hooligan was found in bed with a male prostitute. In January, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that the chant is a hate crime, only just for a chant with unmistakable homophobic intentions. And this sort of abuse isn’t just restricted to the terraces. Social media has made it rife, allowing homophobic abuse to be broadcast freely and directly to footballers, fans, pundits or just generally into the ether. Undoubtedly, some of these accounts are from inherently more homophobic nations – a reflection of the globalisation of the sport. It would be foolish, however, to think that a large proportion are homegrown homophobes, with a grandstand to spout their vile views.

This isn't about particular clubs or sets of fans, but rather football itself. Homophobia still runs through its heart, but there are some causes for hope. Grassroots LGBTQ+ inclusive clubs are thriving across the country, as are LGBTQ+ supporters clubs, helping to provide a safer space for queer footballers and fans. Top-down initiatives from football institutions do help as well, even if they are superficial at best. But one gay footballer does not a problem solve. Football needs to stop slapping itself on the back for such a good job, and double down on challenging LGBTQ+ discrimination from the dressing rooms to the World Cup.

Well done, Jake, your bravery is already helping those across football.

1 In hindsight, awarding anything to Russia was a fucking mistake.

2 Except Idrissa Gueye, who mysteriously gets injured whenever he has to demonstrate support for the equal rights of queer people

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