British Soccer
Player Discusses Homophobia in the Sport

Former British soccer player Paul Elliott recently claimed at a forum against homophobia that he knew of 12 top professional players who were gay but could not come out of the closet because of the wide antigay feeling in that sport.

The former Chelsea defender explained that he felt a lot of sympathy for those players because, as a nonwhite man, he could understand what being the subject of virulent discrimination felt like.

And indeed, in stadiums, racist and homophobic abuses often join together in one hateful hubbub. "Just like racism, homophobia does not have its place in sport," Elliott told reporters.

British LGBT associations have been very active in trying to alleviate homophobic tensions in soccer, and their efforts have paid off. As an example, the Football Association -- England's central body for soccer, or "football," as the sport is known there -- now often provides news on its website about Stonewall F.C., Britain's gay football team, which won the gay football world cup in August.

But despite some improvements in the acceptance of homosexuality, gay professional football players are still reluctant to talk. As the French gay magazine Tetu points out, their fear could stem partly from the story of Justin Fashanu. This British man was the first -- and only -- professional football player to publicly divulge his homosexuality. After doing so in 1990, he never received a long-term contract again, and he committed suicide in 1998. (Thibault Chareton, The Advocate)