Why are there NO openly Gay Footballers?

[mcmanus]

so if for example, david silva came out as gay.....you would want him sold??

Whereas I'd like his phone number...

Brilliant.

 

[Dethred]

Pretty sure Nani is out in the open.

 

[citygal1]

Pretty sure Nani is out in the open.

dunno if this is a joke, but pleeease no!! If he was the first gay footballer to come out it would be a disaster, it needs to be a role model not a soft whinging
#### who people already hate and would just have more of an excuse :P

 

[BlueMooney]

'People were asking my wife if I'm gay,' says West Ham winger Jarvis after his Attitude photoshoot. 'Why is it such a big thing?'

Earlier this year Matt Jarvis bared his torso to appear on the front cover of gay magazine Attitude. The reaction that followed offered the West Ham winger a taste of what it might be like were a current footballer to come out.

There was added attention from family friends, the media, and fellow players, and Jarvis, who is happily married to wife Sarah, admits he hadn’t anticipated such a level of interest.

But he does not regret the choice. In fact, the episode has given the 26-year-old, capped once by England, a unique insight into the issue of homosexuality in football and he is able to add a confident and considered voice to the debate.

Jarvis can now talk about the training ground banter provoked by his cover shoot, imagine the added pressures of playing with concealed sexuality, and speculate on a time when a Premier League footballer feels secure enough to reveal he is gay.

The FA are recognising a year of their initiative ‘Opening Doors and Joining In’ – a scheme designed to make football a safe environment for gay players and fans.

‘It was a big decision,’ Jarvis concedes of the Attitude appearance. ‘If I’m completely honest I didn’t think it would get as much exposure as it did. But then that just shows the power of football. Looking back, it’s good I could help in that scenario.

‘It’s hard to break down those barriers and if, as a professional footballer, I can help in a slight way then maybe it can help in the long run. Obviously it was out there for me but sometimes you’ve got to be brave. It was an opportunity I got given and I thought it would be an honour to do it.

‘I didn’t realise it would be such a big deal. In any other job, any other scenario, why would this be a big deal? But because of football it’s magnified. A lot of people who my wife knew were actually asking her if I was gay. It’s like, “Well, we’re married. I’m sure she would know!”’

For Jarvis, the barriers to having openly gay footballers lie in the stands more than on the training ground. There was gentle ribbing from team-mates over his magazine interview, but only for the fact he was photographed topless in skimpy blue shorts. He thinks the fear of being targeted by opposition fans keen to seize on any difference is the real prohibitive reason.

He says: ‘Obviously you do get banter but that happens with anyone. I still get little bits and pieces: “Strike a pose”, “A lot of attitude in that shot”, “Great attitude in training” – things like that. No one’s like, “I can’t believe you did that,” or anything that’s going to be negative towards it. No one really feels like it’s that much of a big deal. I don’t think it would be a problem at all in and around football changing rooms.’

But he adds: ‘It is a hard decision for someone to make (to come out). With all the pressure of just performing as a footballer, to then go out on a pitch and know that the away fans are going to be using that to their advantage to heckle you to not perform to your best ability.

‘For the home fans it would be like any other thing. They would get behind their team. But it’s one to think about for the away fans. You want your team to win, so if you can put anyone else off their game, then you would.

‘For a footballer, thinking what people are going to say – that side of things – it might be quite hard to keep your performances at a really high standard.’

And yet, as Jarvis puts it, were a gay football to ‘take a leap of faith’ and reveal his sexuality that could also bring relief. ‘Then you can really concentrate on your football,’ he says.

But he adds: ‘I don’t think you can put pressure on. If they want to (come out), then great. If they don’t then it’s completely up to them. I couldn’t put a date on it but obviously with the FA and everyone doing campaigns to try and help, hopefully it will make things easier for people who are thinking about coming out to do so.’

Graeme Le Saux believes the football landscape has developed dramatically since he was barracked about his sexuality, despite being straight. In once infamous exchange he was mocked by Robbie Fowler on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

‘If that happened now the response would be far different,’ says Le Saux. Indeed, the FA have charged 19 players with homophobic abuse since 2010 levying fines totalling £50,000. ‘It’s changed a lot,’ adds the former England defender. ‘There’s two ways to look at it. There is the educational side in terms of creating a positive attitude, and then there’s the sanctioning. They go hand in hand.

‘It’s a sad reflection on the game if people can’t be themselves. Hopefully over time the challenges aren’t so big and people don’t feel they have to pretend to be someone they’re not.

‘But this campaign is certainly not ‘Find a Gay Footballer Month’. It’s for if gay players out there do want to announce they are gay, that football receives them with enough confidence and support that they can continue with their careers.’

Source: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2300635/West-Ham-winger-Jarvis-People-asking-wife-Im-gay-Attitude-photoshoot.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... shoot.html</a>

 

[cheekybids]

People always say have no footballers come out, truth is they have. Maybe just because a footaller does not want to do a 12 page special in"hello" they reckon they haven't come out. It matters fck all to me, nor shouldit matter to you, footallers are there to be footballers nothing else.
1 thing I would say is that the press will have been out there trying to get pictues or stories in the hope of outing any footballer. As soon as a player is seen smoking there are front page stories so maybe there isn't anything interesting out there. If there was i'd find it hard to think someody wouldn't have sold a story about being the star EPL players gay lover cosidering the fascination with the subject.
On another note all my gay friends have ben shit at football however the lesbians were great.

 

[eddiemarin09]

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!. what a goal by the dutch international edwin bummer, keeper has no chance.
Just look at his celebration he doesn't give a shit. He's even took his shirt and shorts off.


<a class="postlink" href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9G2QTSf9TIo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9G2QTSf9TIo</a>

Hahaaa oooooooo god I can picture it now

 

[m32blue]

Morley and Bishop were always good pals

 

[Crouchinho]

I actually dont even think there's that many gay players in the PL. I would be amazed if they would be above 5 and thats being generous. There are many reasons why someone gay would make it all the way to the top of football, most teens would give up football when they realize they like to get instead of give and just stay away from football

How would you know it would be less than 5? There are around 500 players in the books that's not counting youth and reserves.

I'd be surprised if there isn't at least 5 queer in there. Maybe they just don't want the abuse, but for some reason I don't think they would get much at all

It wouldn't surprise me if jenas, Jose Enrique, mata, torres, Ashley Cole and sol Campbell were all bumming each other now

 

[Bill]

may i ask, who the fuck cares?

 

[mat]

may i ask, who the fuck cares?

Exactly.

You do your job to the best of your ability. Sexuality shouldn't count.