Written by Football is a sport that unites everyone and brings all those from different countries, religions, and ethnicities and like any other sport football has the power to unite everyone together within the football community. With all this being said there are still some sexuality issues that remain in football but particularly in the men’s game and its lack of male footballers who identify as LGBTQ. However, the lack of LGBT athletes and role models visible in sports is still a huge factor and one of the main reasons why participation is still low for the LGBT community in football. Another factor is due to low presence of role models at a high-level which is seen as a stigma for upcoming young footballers.
This is certainly a topic that has been highlighted for many years in the football community and many people recognise it as a huge issue that needs to change for football to escalate to that next level. There is still a lack of male footballers and coaches who identify as LGBT and in the recent 2018 world cup not one athlete or coach identified as LGBTQ. This was a major contrast to the 40 women either players or coaches who did. This was a very contrasting statistic which then generates questions from those within the football community and those who look in on if the female footballing world is much more accepting than the men’s regarding sexuality. All these statistics reflect is how advanced the women’s game is becoming in terms of players feeling more comfortable within there sexuality which shows how much the women’s game is progressing. However, in 2021 Australian footballer Josh Cavallo revealed on social media as the first and only openly gay male footballer although the Australian player said he was overwhelmed and humbled with all the nice messages and support he received after being so brave. He was then targeted with homophobia comments on social media by a small minority of fans who are still not accepting.
Although there have been many campaigns introduced in football to celebrate LGBTQ month and to raise awareness for such an important social topic these campaigns are used show support for the players who are LGBT and fans. One campaign is the rainbow laces campaign which was introduced in 2013 this is has become a campaign and a tradition for players to take part in when its LGBTQ month. Many players would change their normal lace colours to the LGBTQ community colours to raise awareness and show support. The clubs would change social media colours of there respective badges, numbers on the back of shirts, captain armband colours to the LGBTQ colours to show solidarity and raise awareness.
Is enough being done to stop sexuality discrimination in football?