Once again footballers in Germany seem to be taking the lead on the issue in homophobia on football.
Schalke and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has urged homosexual footballers to stop hiding their sexuality.
The 24-year-old, who has been recently linked to Liverpool and Manchester United, told a German celebrity magazine that coming out would lift a great weight from gay players' shoulders.
He added the fans would soon accept it saying what matters is the performance delivered by a player.
Neuer's comments follow on from those of Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez last November.
Once again it is encouraging to see footballers speak positively about the issue.
The majority of players are actually very bright and aware of the wider world, contrary to popular belief.
More statements like this and both players and footballers alike will feel more comfortable with the fact that being LGBT is both fine and acceptable.
Showing posts with label mario gomez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mario gomez. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Must be something in the German water
German football has long been overlooked by fans in other countries.
Despite its national team reaching the later stages of a plethora of international competitions, its communal approach to ownership of teams, and reasonable admissions prices, supporters don't quite rate the Bundesliga as much as its English, Spanish or Italian counterpart.
Yet, the players in the German league seem way ahead of its more "glamorous" rivals in one area - that of LGBT inclusion.
For years Hamburg-based St Pauli have proved that it not only what happens on the field which makes a club great.
Behind the banner of a skull and crossbones and with its fan base of punks, prostitutes and political activists, it helped bring the anti-racism and anti-homophobia agenda to the footballing table.
But it is not just a small corner of Germany's second largest city which is promoting equality within the world's favourite sport.
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has urged gay colleagues to come out.
In an interview with celebrity magazine Bunte, the German international said homosexuality was treated as a "taboo topic" in mens' sports.
"They would then play as though they'd been unshackled," the 25-year-old added.
"We have a gay Vice-Chancellor, Berlin's mayor is gay - professional football players should commit to their inclination," Gomez said.
They are refreshing words to come from such a high-profile player.
After all this is the player who is a former German soccer player of the year, a player who is still revered in Stuttgart for his goals which brought the side the Bundesliga in 2006/7.
Much like Florent Malouda, the reasons for the statement from Gomez is open to debate.
To speculate on his motives would be to simply discredit what is a positive statement to promoting equality within the world's favourite sport.
What is not speculative is that Gomez has been extremely brave in making the comments.
Despite his position as an established international, he has yet to live up to his hefty price tag for Bayern Munich.
Bavaria is also not exactly known as a place of open liberal thought so quite how the fans at the Allianz Arena will greet them will be interesting to see.
What makes them braver is that they come after international teammate Tim Wiese warned in April that any gay player who revealed his sexuality would be ridiculed by "merciless fans".
Additionally, Bayern teammate Philipp Lahm told Playboy last year that the pressure would be too great for players to be openly homosexual.
While it is clear how we feel about this, the important thing is that in Germany they are actually having a debate.
This is sort of public discourse that needs to happen in every country as if people keep on shying away from something it will never fully be tackled.
For that we praise all those professionals who are actively discussing the issue in Germany. On this issue, much like the single currency, it appears the Germans are leading the way.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW
Despite its national team reaching the later stages of a plethora of international competitions, its communal approach to ownership of teams, and reasonable admissions prices, supporters don't quite rate the Bundesliga as much as its English, Spanish or Italian counterpart.
Yet, the players in the German league seem way ahead of its more "glamorous" rivals in one area - that of LGBT inclusion.
For years Hamburg-based St Pauli have proved that it not only what happens on the field which makes a club great.
Behind the banner of a skull and crossbones and with its fan base of punks, prostitutes and political activists, it helped bring the anti-racism and anti-homophobia agenda to the footballing table.
But it is not just a small corner of Germany's second largest city which is promoting equality within the world's favourite sport.
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has urged gay colleagues to come out.
In an interview with celebrity magazine Bunte, the German international said homosexuality was treated as a "taboo topic" in mens' sports.
"They would then play as though they'd been unshackled," the 25-year-old added.
"We have a gay Vice-Chancellor, Berlin's mayor is gay - professional football players should commit to their inclination," Gomez said.
They are refreshing words to come from such a high-profile player.
After all this is the player who is a former German soccer player of the year, a player who is still revered in Stuttgart for his goals which brought the side the Bundesliga in 2006/7.
Much like Florent Malouda, the reasons for the statement from Gomez is open to debate.
To speculate on his motives would be to simply discredit what is a positive statement to promoting equality within the world's favourite sport.
What is not speculative is that Gomez has been extremely brave in making the comments.
Despite his position as an established international, he has yet to live up to his hefty price tag for Bayern Munich.
Bavaria is also not exactly known as a place of open liberal thought so quite how the fans at the Allianz Arena will greet them will be interesting to see.
What makes them braver is that they come after international teammate Tim Wiese warned in April that any gay player who revealed his sexuality would be ridiculed by "merciless fans".
Additionally, Bayern teammate Philipp Lahm told Playboy last year that the pressure would be too great for players to be openly homosexual.
While it is clear how we feel about this, the important thing is that in Germany they are actually having a debate.
This is sort of public discourse that needs to happen in every country as if people keep on shying away from something it will never fully be tackled.
For that we praise all those professionals who are actively discussing the issue in Germany. On this issue, much like the single currency, it appears the Germans are leading the way.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
