Britain's Gay Footballers.....

....documentary tonight, 9pm BBC3. Should be quite interesting, do you think it's time a top player had the bravery to come out? I know for sure of at least one gay footballer that's played (and scored) at Loftus Road this season. I like to think we live in a society now where top sportsmen should feel comfortable enough to be open about their sexuality.

 

Most people don't bat an eyelid at gays these days but football still has a Neanderthal view of anything that isn't macho. Rugby and cricket are moving ahead of football which will always, due to it's 'tribal instincts', view gays as objects of hate and ridicule. As a parallel look at what Anton Ferdinand has gone through even though he didn't make the complaint against JT...

 

Don't think there are any openly Gay footballers anywhere, not even in women's football where some make it fairly obvious.

 

Who did he score with?

 

Chortle, chortle, snigger.

 

No, I don't think there any openly gay footballers, but there are definitely gay footballers, which is my point. Is Sooperhoop right, that football is behind other sports in the respect that gay players would be a target of abuse at opposing grounds? He probably is, if a player did come out, I doubt he'd get the support like Gareth Thomas did when he announced he was gay, while still playing at the top level in rugby.

 

A definite Freudian Slip!...

 

Whoops, an honest mistake there!!!

 

It's more the fans rather than the players that would make life hell for anyone who did come out. I'm sure players have their suspicions of team-mates who may be gay and there is probably an element of banter or even subtle bullying attached to it, so it's possible team-mates may not be as averse to a player coming out as you may think, but it's who would be brave enough to risk it?

 

No, I think if a player did have the bravery to come out, I'm sure his club and team-mates would be very supportive. However, I'm not so sure that opposing fans would be so gracious. I think it would take a top, top player, like Cristiano Ronaldo, to admit to being gay before others would follow.

 

Personally, the less I and the rest of the world know about people's and especially sleb's sexuality, the happier I am.

Having said that, it's nice to see we're nearing an age where our personal differences in any regard no longer makes any of us prime targets for ridicule and/or worse. Still appauls me what happened to Justin Fashanu. Very sad indeed.

It's good to see we're to some extent getting there on race - although I often lament the absence of Asian Brits in our leagues. Good to see also the women's game ripening (though I wish they'd get rid of the 'ladies' in club names) and the introduction of female officials in the men's game.

I'm hearing that our Joey's on the case re. gay footballers. Top man for that imo. If we still can't see that sexuality has little or nothing to do with our competitive or other inclinations and abilities, we're more backward than any we choose to point the finger at.

 

What about the refs then. Funny video, better than Mike Dean's performance?

[video=youtube;IjynbUNlvWU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjynbUNlvWU&feature=fvwrel[/video]

 

Didn't mean to throw in silly stuff in such a serious issue, sorry.

As you say Brix, the Justin Fashanu incident something of the most tragic ever to hit football.

 

Funny you say that but I think he is gay.

I dont think it will happen for a long time, they are advised against is and theres apparently 20 in the PL alone.

Was the player a QPR or opposition player?

 

I heard that Elton John was considering buying Aston Villa after heard their strikers were Bent and Keane.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if he was gay either, despite the gorgeous girlfriend and child, but it would take a player of his standing in the game to come out before others would feel comfortable doing so. I'm sure you're right, they probably are advised against it.

Opposing player.

 

If this is true, and you rule out everyone with a wife, girlfriend or kids, then one of the following five players is gay...

Buzsaky
Dzeko
Silva
Mackie
Pilkington

Too much time on my hands.....

 

Just seen this, which leaves Dzeko, Silva or Pilkington.

 

That's assuming everyone with a wife, gf or kids is straight.

 

Very true, but work with me Watford...work with me.