OFFSIDES: Homophobia on the field

The name will be alien to most Americans but across the Atlantic, Richard Scudamore is kind of a big deal. Scudamore is the Chief Executive of the English Premier League, the top flight of soccer in that country.

So when Scudamore publicly stated this week that gay footballers (soccer players to you Americans) would be treated with respect if they chose to publicly reveal their sexuality, it carried some weight and made a few waves. The big question is: Is he right?
“The environment would be entirely suitable for them to come out,” Scudamore told the BBC. “It would be welcomed and I think there would be a tolerance to it.”

However, the evidence would suggest otherwise. The south of England’s Brighton (football team: Brighton & Hove Albion) is known as a desirable area for gay people to reside, but fans of other clubs have been known to sing homophobic songs and chants in the direction of Brighton’s football-team fans. League officials and police have gotten involved, but it’s virtually impossible to silence 60,000 sports fans.

Fans and opposing players have been fined, and it’s getting better, but the abuse remains. Soccer is the sport of the working man in the UK, despite soaring ticket prices. As a result, and generally for the better, a blue-collar ethic is still prevalent in the game — certainly among the supporters. The downside? Old-fashioned ideas are tough to remove.

Indeed, not too long ago — the 1980s — black footballers were subjected to terrible abuse. Players like John Barnes and Cyrille Regis, among the first players of color in the country, had bananas thrown at them early on and regularly heard monkey chants aimed in their direction. Thankfully, that’s been almost entirely eradicated (not in Eastern Europe and some parts of Italy, sadly), pointing to progression in soccer, and in society in general.

So there is hope. It’s been 25 years since the first and last openly gay soccer player graced the premier league — Justin Fashanu at Norwich City — and he killed himself in 1998. Former Aston Villa player Thomas Hitzlsperger came out after his playing career was over, uncomfortable with the ideas of revealing his sexuality while still playing.

But the Daily Mirror has reported that two Premier League players are set to come out with the support of their clubs and, while their names have yet to be revealed, one can only hope that the undesirable element that creates such an ugly environment during Brighton games is silenced.

Football is known as the beautiful game, the world game, and for the most part that’s true. It’s the sport that brings the whole world together and, at its best, its stadiums generate the best atmosphere of any game. Banter between supporters is an element that can never disappear — it’s key to the vibe. But everyone knows where the line is, and racism, homophobia, and sexism are … well, way over that line.

So when these two gentlemen do reveal their sexuality to an overly fascinated world, let’s hope they’re allowed to carry on with their jobs. Let’s hope they’re judged on their ability on the field and nothing else.