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Post by a more piratey game on Dec 13, 2016 18:31:27 GMT
the times they are a-changing. And a very fine thing it will be too if they do....
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/13/mp-says-three-gay-footballers-talks-fa-coming/
Three players are in talks with the football authorities about coming out publicly as homosexual, an MP disclosed.
John Nicolson, the former BBC journalist who is now a member of the Culture Media & Sport select committee, claimed the trio were considering revealing their sexuality while quizzing the sports minister as part of a parliamentary inquiry into homophobia in sport.
“I understand that there are three players in talks with the FA [Football Association] about coming out and they haven’t done so yet,” Nicolson told Tracey Crouch.
The Scottish National Party MP also grilled the minister on what the Government could do to make it safe for them to do so after the chairman of the FA, Greg Clarke, told the committee in October an openly gay player would suffer “significant abuse”.
Crouch last month rebuked Clarke over his comments, branding them “the complete opposite of the kind of support that a player needs”.
And she did so again on Tuesday after agreeing with Nicolson that footballers were “scared” to come out.
“Clearly,” she said. “And if you’ve got comments right at the top saying now is not the right time, no wonder, in many respects, that they remain scared.”
Citing laws banning hate crimes, she added: “The legislation is in place. It’s there to help combat homophobia in the whole of society. It’s as applicable to football and to any other sport as it is to anybody else.
“And, therefore, the idea that the time isn’t right now, they were strange comments. I thought they were disappointing comments under the circumstances.”
Challenged by Nicolson that an openly gay player might suffer abuse “from the terraces” or worse, she replied: “There are these research points out there. Nine out of 10 people would not be bothered; the Radio Five poll of 4,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland said that most fans would be comfortable with their club signing a gay player; 82 per cent of supporters said they had no issue with a gay player.
“So, in terms of the environment of somebody coming out, actually, today, now, [there] has probably never been a better time to come out.
“And, therefore, that’s what was disappointing about the chairman’s comments.”
Crouch described the lack of openly gay active footballers as “incredibly disappointing”, admitting she did not know why that was the case “other than they think that they don’t have the environment of support”.
Justin Fashanu became the first player in England to come out as gay in 1990 but took his own life aged 37 eight years later.
Former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger became the first with Premier League experience to publicly reveal his homosexuality almost three years ago, albeit after he had finished playing in England.
He was followed a month later by former England women’s captain Casey Stoney, who was the country’s first active footballer to come out since Fashanu.
It was reported just over a year ago that an England men’s player and another Premier League star were considering doing the same.
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Dec 13, 2016 18:52:38 GMT
Good that confidentiality is being respected. I suspect though that the archaic FA will be applauded if this leak has come from them given the subject matter.
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Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
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Post by Peter Parker on Dec 13, 2016 20:00:00 GMT
For me its a bit catch 22. I dont care if x player is gay and I dont need to know. I would like to think that x player could be open about it with his work mates and they would respect their privacy in the public domain if thst was what they wanted.
That said some players come out might help change some attitudes
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Post by chelt_gas on Dec 13, 2016 21:52:25 GMT
These types of headlines will appear embarrassing in 20 years time. As if a sexual persuasion suddenly differentiates person A from person B. It doesn't unless someone chooses to use it as a differentiator. The majority care more about the fact an issue is trying to be made from something that is irrelevant either by a minority element of Banter Jokeys in the crowd or the gay propaganda lobby.
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Post by interceptor on Dec 14, 2016 7:09:37 GMT
I could not care less about a footballers sexual persuasion - it simply does not matter. I suspect most players would not care less either about their peers. Here is a scenario though
City and Rovers play a match and a City player has come out - that player is going to be destroyed by the fans and, under that pressure makes mistakes, which make his fans barrack him!
In those circumstances who would want to be first to declare.........only a very, very brave man.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Dec 14, 2016 7:56:31 GMT
We are at the dawn of acceptance in sexuality in sport, as we were a similar way in pre-pc era of ethnic footballers..
After a period of time, future generations will see en masse that it doesn't matter a fig as long as their heroes play well and fairly..
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faggotygas
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Post by faggotygas on Dec 14, 2016 10:16:38 GMT
I could not care less about a footballers sexual persuasion - it simply does not matter. I suspect most players would not care less either about their peers. Here is a scenario though City and Rovers play a match and a City player has come out - that player is going to be destroyed by the fans and, under that pressure makes mistakes, which make his fans barrack him! In those circumstances who would want to be first to declare.........only a very, very brave man. Possibly, although personally if a City player, or any player, came out I would forget about the fact in about half an hour, as it has exactly zero impact on me. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2016 0:59:09 GMT
Were a Bristol Spoort 1982 player to come out, I would admire his courage and balls for coming out. Then probably give him stick. But not for his sexuality - I would find this unacceptable, much as I would if it were his skin colour. I'd surely find something better to give him grief about if I made the effort.
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Post by interceptor on Dec 15, 2016 6:01:31 GMT
I could not care less about a footballers sexual persuasion - it simply does not matter. I suspect most players would not care less either about their peers. Here is a scenario though City and Rovers play a match and a City player has come out - that player is going to be destroyed by the fans and, under that pressure makes mistakes, which make his fans barrack him! In those circumstances who would want to be first to declare.........only a very, very brave man. Possibly, although personally if a City player, or any player, came out I would forget about the fact in about half an hour, as it has exactly zero impact on me. Well - it will have around half an hours impact and whilst, in those 30 minutes you are forgetting about it, you could be a bit horrible! I suggest that if a player declares himself gay in a match you intend to watch you arrive 30 minutes late. |
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Igitur
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Post by Igitur on Dec 15, 2016 10:04:56 GMT
Many consider it's a generational thing (look at some of the stuff in the It Was Alright in the 60s (or70s) TV programmes) and so long as there is an age group which do not like LGBTs then others will join in. But football attracts many wrong 'uns and there will always be an element in the crowd and so others will join in; stewards, including ours, take little or no action. My view is that players will not come out and wait until retiring from football.
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Dec 15, 2016 11:18:10 GMT
Many consider it's a generational thing (look at some of the stuff in the It Was Alright in the 60s (or70s) TV programmes) and so long as there is an age group which do not like LGBTs then others will join in. But football attracts many wrong 'uns and there will always be an element in the crowd and so others will join in; stewards, including ours, take little or no action. My view is that players will not come out and wait until retiring from football. Many consider it a religious thing as well. |
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basel
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Post by basel on Dec 15, 2016 13:58:19 GMT
It's a shame that even at this time footballers are scared to state their sexuality,if they want to,if asked or anyone is actually interested.
I'm not interested,what people do with their own personal plumbing is up to them,as long as it does'nt harm anyone.
Mad UK society,but at least regarding this kind of thing,we're getting better.Slowly.
Edit.Those who dislike gay people,be it for religous reasons (eg,some Muslims interpret being gay a sin-punishable by death in extreme cases-,from their 'understanding' of Islam/Koran), or fear or what have you,could do with some education.Those who feel gay people should die and won't change their point of view need removing out of the UK.
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Post by a more piratey game on Dec 15, 2016 16:49:23 GMT
I'm quite interested, because if those 3 go ahead they'll be barrier breakers
Rosa Parks only took a ride on a bus, but people haven't forgotten her
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basel
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Post by basel on Dec 16, 2016 17:21:36 GMT
I'm quite interested, because if those 3 go ahead they'll be barrier breakers Rosa Parks only took a ride on a bus, but people haven't forgotten her Oh i hope these three go through with it AMPG (just incase your post was for me).I meant i'm not interested in other peoples 'affairs of the personal plumbing'. As i typed,i think we are slowly getting better at accepting peoples differring sexuality and this looks like a step in the right direction. |
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Post by fanatical on Dec 16, 2016 17:29:21 GMT
There are many Gay player. Football players and management who know them have to be applauded because no-one has spilled the beans on them respecting their anonymity
It is, after all, nobody's business.
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