Coming Out in the World of Soccer

Kiera wrote: »

Lunchbox Ljungberg is not gay.

Quite right, but obviously the media being the bastions of intelligence that they are, have decided to raise questions of his sexuality becasue he likes fashion and doesn't cavort "WAGS".

Its similar to the gay witchhunt of Graham Le Saux, who read the guardian and had an interest in the arts, so therefore must be gay. Or Sol Campbell, who is emotionally sensitive and wanted to be a fashion designer, rather than a footballer when he was young. Or Ashley Cole, who liked to put a mobile phone up his bumb and have his team mate text him so the vibrate function would do funny things to him. Its pure bigoted to assume any of this behaviour equates to being gay.

Trashbat wrote: »

Quite right, but obviously the media being the bastions of intelligence that they are, have decided to raise questions of his sexuality becasue he likes fashion and doesn't cavort "WAGS".

Its similar to the gay witchhunt of Graham Le Saux, who read the guardian and had an interest in the arts, so therefore must be gay. Or Sol Campbell, who is emotionally sensitive and wanted to be a fashion designer, rather than a footballer when he was young. Or Ashley Cole, who liked to put a mobile phone up his bumb and have his team mate text him so the vibrate function would do funny things to him. Its pure bigoted to assume any of this behaviour equates to being gay.

Yeah they always pick on the pretty boys!

Bob the Seducer wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that the John O'Shea thing comes from City fans realising that O'Shea and Gay rhyme.

Those Genius City fans! They are like a modern day Lord Byron with their poetic genius!

bonerm wrote: »

Cole = Hole.
Fashanu = Lash the poo.

Hmm, you may be onto something here!

Totally, There's patterns emerging:

Lampard = Camp and Hard

Although I think Darren Bent is a little lacking in subltety, as was former Arsenal Keeper from the 70s (i think) Jimmy Rimmer.

Bambi wrote: »

In all fairness other players might feel a bit weird if they knew that a team mate they were hugging, kissing and slapping on the arse every weekend was gay.

Bambi wrote: »

Literal poster is literal

I'm struggling to see a metaphore

so you were'nt saying straight players would have a problem with non-sexual physical contact with a gay men?

Risteard wrote: »

He still plays Rugby League though and has said that his coach at Wales, Scott Johnson knew he was gay as did a few of his team-mates.

Also Nigel Owens, one of the top referees came out as gay a few years ago.

I didn't know he was still playing, but in fairness, i'd say some of the time the players, regardless of sport, would know that their team mate was gay, but its the media and supporters that make it a bigger issue.

With Justin Fashanu, there's a story about brian clough being annoyed with him for going to gay bars ("you get bread from a butcher, you get a leg of lamb from a butcher, so what are you doing going to those bloody poof bars" apparently what he said), but i presume a large proportion of his teammates knew and got on with life.

Obviously this is not a rule, just look at John Amechi, the basketball player, who did everything he could to hide his lifestyle.

rovert wrote: »

I think you are missing the issue

enlighten me so. there is no issue unless people are being forced to pretend they are straight against their will

rovert wrote: »

Professionally they are being forced to be closeted.

advised ≠ forced