Gay Footballers

[Manny]

I received an email from a student at Staffordshire University the other day and agreed to help out with his research.

I have a project ongoing that I hope you might be able to help with in terms of exposure.

I am carrying out an anonymous survey on fans' views towards gay football players. This is in response to the Premier League dropping a campaign on this issue and Max Clifford claiming that 'football is steeped in homophobia'.

We want to assess how fans feel about this. Our pilot data was published in The Observer on Sunday and discussed again on The Nolan show on Radio 5Live on Sunday evening and BBC Radio Leeds and Stoke this week.

The address is: http://www.topfan.co.uk and the site is being managed by Staffordshire University.

I hope you think it is a valuable study and I hope you can help me gain some positive responses.

If you have a spare five minutes, please visit the link below and fill out the form. All results are anonymous.

http://www.topfan.co.uk

[Sluffy]

Yes there are bound to be gay footballers.

Yes most football fans are blokes and who don't like to think of their 'hero's' as gay.

Therefore gay footballers stay in the closet!

[Natasha Whittam]

Shame on this site for supporting this utter crap.

Who cares if a footballer is gay or not? We go to be entertained on the pitch, not wonder if the players take it from behind.

This student thinks it's a valuable study? Does he watch the news? Fcuking wanker.

[Howfen White]

Done

[dh1985]

Yes most football fans are blokes and who don't like to think of their 'hero's' as gay.

But, surely, in the 70s the same 'fans' would have just the same issues regarding black players. Doesn't make it right!

I'd like to think that the majority of football fans would not care less about the sexuality of the footballers. Obviously, there will always be a minority who will have an issue, same as there are still fans who'll chant racist abuse, but that can be challenged and affected by campaigns similar to Kick Racism out of Football etc and the banning orders handed down to the Spurs' fans who chanted homphobic abuse at Sol Campbell.

It will take one player to bite the bullet and 'come out' to the world and I imagine others would follow. It has happened in other equally 'macho' sports e.g Rugby. It's sad that they have to hide thier private life in this day and age.

[Howfen White]

It will take one player to bite the bullet and 'come out' to the world and I imagine others would follow. It has happened in other equally 'macho' sports e.g Rugby. It's sad that they have to hide thier private life in this day and age.

Gareth Thomas who plays for Crusaders has come out and nothing has ever been said about it. Unfortunately, the mentality of a minority of fans in football is very different to those in rugby.

[Sluffy]

But, surely, in the 70s the same 'fans' would have just the same issues regarding black players. Doesn't make it right!

I'd like to think that the majority of football fans would not care less about the sexuality of the footballers. Obviously, there will always be a minority who will have an issue, same as there are still fans who'll chant racist abuse, but that can be challenged and affected by campaigns similar to Kick Racism out of Football etc and the banning orders handed down to the Spurs' fans who chanted homphobic abuse at Sol Campbell.

It will take one player to bite the bullet and 'come out' to the world and I imagine others would follow. It has happened in other equally 'macho' sports e.g Rugby. It's sad that they have to hide thier private life in this day and age.

Yes, you are right - black players were terrible abused back then.

I think we might be naieve if we think racism as disappeared though - many people still do it even despite all the campaigns and bannings - and there is always some example of it happening somewhere or other throughout the season even now.

A great many sports other than football suffer from homophobia – simply because the small but influential minority will not tolerate it.  Megson had the dog’s abuse because he failed as a manager – can you imagine what abuse an openly gay footballer playing for the opposition would have – every single time he played?

I’m guessing the purpose of the study is to bring this out into the open – and if so I don’t think that is a bad idea – hopefully  it my even lead to people to begin to change their attitudes

[Diana Prince]

To be fair Sluffy, Megson's ginger so deserved plenty abuse for that.

[Big_Sharps]

but if gay footballers were allowed it would increase the non gay players risk of getting aids if there was ever a clash of heads and blood was spilled.

[Sluffy]

To be fair Sluffy, Megson's ginger so deserved plenty abuse for that.

Fair enough!

I was just trying to give the youngsters some idea of what gay's would face.  

I remember the abuse that black players used to get from the crowd - the bananas that was thrown at them, the monkey noises that were made, the 'zigger, zagger zigger' song, and loads more things very much worse, that was dished out to black players (even to those playing for the Wanderers sometimes!).

I couldn't blame any gay player for not wanting to go through that.

There needs to be a change in society first before gay sportsmen and women are considered to be acceptable to everyone.

[Keegan]

Why not just change gay sportsmen and women so that the society can be considered acceptable to everyone?

[Diana Prince]

There needs to be a change in society first before gay sportsmen and women are considered to be acceptable to everyone.

Indeed, society as a whole and not just sport. There's plenty out there living a lie due to feeling there is a pressure to conform. Personally I find that unacceptable too due to other people being duped too.

[Sluffy]

but if gay footballers were allowed it would increase the non gay players risk of getting aids if there was ever a clash of heads and blood was spilled.

I know you are on a fishing trip but....

- Gay footballers are allowed and do play now.

- Heterosexuals can catch aids to.

[Big_Sharps]

I know you are on a fishing trip but....

- Gay footballers are allowed and do play now.

- Heterosexuals can catch aids to.

Not true, straight people have natural toxins in there system that enables them to fight the aids virus.

[Howfen White]

Not true, straight people have natural toxins in there system that enables them to fight the aids virus.

I was waiting to see how long it would take before you put shíte all over this thread. Are you trying to be funny?

[Big_Sharps]

I was waiting to see how long it would take before you put shíte all over this thread. Are you trying to be funny?

I am not following, I realise this thread it very close to home but I dont see what your problem is.

[jimbo_bwfc]

If a gay player came out I would imagine they would take a fair amount of stick, that stick however would be 95% 'banter'. Whether that is right or wrong is subject to debate but singing about how someone conducts themselves personally is nothing new. IE if a player is having an affair, or has a gambling problem, or had a family member locked up etc.

The boundries for what can be chanted in the football environment is much wider than what would be acceptable in day to day society- whether that is right or wrong could take on a thread of its own.

Racism is wrong, and obviously when it was tolerated more in society, and in football grounds black players were subjected to unacceptable abuse. However I'd say there is a far cry from people going 'ooo err' when the said gay person gets the ball or someone throwing bananas at a black player.

Again this could take on its own thread but is being gay a choice or something you are born as?

If it is considered a choice, then subjecting a gay person to banter is no different to having a go at John Terry saying 'same old Terry always cheating'. As long as it stays cheeky and doesn't get sinister of course.

I don't think that the mentality of most football fans would be that being gay is wrong and they should be shipped out of the country or stoned to death, although a small number may think like that, like racism, whether they express it vocally at a football game or not that intolerance is still there.

The bigger concern would be how would team mates react. If-only one- teammate was totally opposed to gay people then it would be a problem for them, however you would hope (like with Gareth Thomas) said persons teammates would be understanding. Of course it won't always be the case- like Wayne Brown who boasted to black members of team he voted BNP you are always going to find someone intolerant to you.

[Big_Sharps]

If a gay player came out I would imagine they would take a fair amount of stick, that stick however would be 95% 'banter'. Whether that is right or wrong is subject to debate but singing about how someone conducts themselves personally is nothing new. IE if a player is having an affair, or has a gambling problem, or had a family member locked up etc.

The boundries for what can be chanted in the football environment is much wider than what would be acceptable in day to day society- whether that is right or wrong could take on a thread of its own.

Racism is wrong, and obviously when it was tolerated more in society, and in football grounds black players were subjected to unacceptable abuse. However I'd say there is a far cry from people going 'ooo err' when the said gay person gets the ball or someone throwing bananas at a black player.

Again this could take on its own thread but is being gay a choice or something you are born as?

If it is considered a choice, then subjecting a gay person to banter is no different to having a go at John Terry saying 'same old Terry always cheating'. As long as it stays cheeky and doesn't get sinister of course.

I don't think that the mentality of most football fans would be that being gay is wrong and they should be shipped out of the country or stoned to death, although a small number may think like that, like racism, whether they express it vocally at a football game or not that intolerance is still there.

The bigger concern would be how would team mates react. If-only one- teammate was totally opposed to gay people then it would be a problem for them, however you would hope (like with Gareth Thomas) said persons teammates would be understanding. Of course it won't always be the case- like Wayne Brown who boasted to black members of team he voted BNP you are always going to find someone intolerant to you.

Boasted or informed them, The BNP are a politcal party and that is the end of it.  He has the right to vote for who he liked and should be able to disclose that without any issues.

[Diana Prince]

Jimbo, I can see where you're coming from, but conversely, there's nothing more annoying that a 'we're here, we're queer' queen or a 'we is black what's your problem' ganster type person. I sometimes think they're untolerant of the majority of the rest of society. We're always going to have those who shove their opinion down others throats, if you pardon the pun.

[Natasha Whittam]

This is a ridiculous thread. There are only two people who want footballers to come out:

1) The media so they can sell more newspapers to the scum of this country who are titilated by celebrity gossip (i.e. the majority).
2) Those ridiculous pro-gay groups that think a high profile gay footballer will suddenly make society more tolerant of homosexuality.

This is a ridiculous subject for a student....he/she may as well have done a survey on whether people prefer Jordan's right tit or left tit.

[Big_Sharps]

This is a ridiculous thread. There are only two people who want footballers to come out:

1) The media so they can sell more newspapers to the scum of this country who are titilated by celebrity gossip (i.e. the majority).
2) Those ridiculous pro-gay groups that think a high profile gay footballer will suddenly make society more tolerant of homosexuality.

This is a ridiculous subject for a student....he/she may as well have done a survey on whether people prefer Jordan's right tit or left tit.

Neither.

[Diana Prince]

Neither.

I agree. Horrible creature is that. And speaking of the media and horrible creatures, I have no idea how I didn't throw the remote at the screen yesterday when that slag, Katona came on advertising her car crash of a life in a paper and how she's turned her life around - oh again? - smashing - now fúck off and die!

[Big_Sharps]

I agree. Horrible creature is that. And speaking of the media and horrible creatures, I have no idea how I didn't throw the remote at the screen yesterday when that slag, Katona came on advertising her car crash of a life in a paper and how she's turned her life around - oh again? - smashing - now fúck off and die!

Kerry is not so bad, I wouldnt say no.

[Diana Prince]

Kerry is not so bad, I wouldnt say no.

It's probably like a wizards sleeve.

[Big_Sharps]

It's probably like a wizards sleeve.

You're only enhancing the fantasy.