Has there ever been a premiership football that has ''come out''?

Blatter

Just curious, I can't remember any player that has come out gay whilst playing in the premiership. Surely there must be plenty hiding away.

There seems to be a massive taboo associated with it.

CSF

That Mitre lad is definitely hiding in the closet, only a matter of time.

gosplan

I might be wrong but AFAIK, no-one that's ever even watched a football game has come out.

In all seriousness though, there are players that people are suspicious about. Various chants over the years have alluded to this but that's all just worthless speculation really.

No-one's taken the big decision yet AFAIK.

It's another thing where Rugby is streets ahead of football.

Mars Bar

John O' Shea had a chant for him about being gay...then he got married but it's still sung. Mainly by Liverpool fans I think.

greendom

Justin Fashanu of course, but that was pre-premiership. I think what happened to him would put off anyone else who was thinking of coming out.

greendom

mars bar wrote: »

John O' Shea had a chant for him about being gay...then he got married but it's still sung. Mainly by Liverpool fans I think.

I'm not talking about John O'Shea necessarily but I imagine there are plenty of married gay footballers.

Just Contribute

I'm sure there was someone who everyone said was gay. I don't think he came out, and I don't know whether he was actually gay or not, but a friend of his was on Off The Ball ages ago.

I'm not sure, but he could have committed suicide? Could be totally wrong though.

Mars Bar

greendom wrote: »

I'm not talking about John O'Shea necessarily but I imagine there are plenty of married gay footballers.

Probably!

Dempsey

Justin Fashanu is the only one AFAIK

efb

I wish Freddie is!
And Xavi Alonso...
and Craig Bellemy!!!

Just Contribute

Just Contribute wrote: »

I'm sure there was someone who everyone said was gay. I don't think he came out, and I don't know whether he was actually gay or not, but a friend of his was on Off The Ball ages ago.

I'm not sure, but he could have committed suicide? Could be totally wrong though.

Justin Fashanu - just checked there.

gosplan

wikipedia wrote:

Justinus Soni "Justin" Fashanu (pronounced /ˈfæʃənuː/ FASH-ə-noo) (19 February 1961 – 2 May 1998) was an English footballer, who played for a variety of clubs between 1978 and 1997. He was the first, and as of 2010 still the only, professional footballer to come out as gay, and was the first black player to command a £1m transfer fee.

Well, that answers that.

Revolution9

mars bar wrote: »

John O' Shea had a chant for him about being gay...then he got married but it's still sung. Mainly by Liverpool fans I think.

Man City fans I thought. Can't remember hearing it from our lot.

Ardennes1944

i thought matty taylor of bolton was? it was in the paper a year or so back

tony1kenobi

I think it is generally known that Tottenham Hotspur is gay.

Just Contribute

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i thought matty taylor of bolton was? it was in the paper a year or so back

Just speculation.

Morzadec

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i thought matty taylor of bolton was? it was in the paper a year or so back

I heard this recently too, apparently it's true

Revolution9

When Elton John attended Watford games as chairmen was he ever on the end of homophobic chants?

Just Contribute

Morzadec wrote: »

I heard this recently too, apparently it's true

He's never actually come out though.

homerjay2005

hmmm, i dunno, i would think there are very few players at the high level, that are gay. i am probably making a sweeping generalisation here, but playing football is not something most gays do.

i of course be wrong on that, but every person i know who is gay, doesnt even follow football, let alone play it.

efb

me and alot of my gay friends follow football.

Mars Bar

Revolution9 wrote: »

When Elton John attended Watford games as chairmen was he ever on the end of homophobic chants?

I hope not.

I Elton!

Pro. F

homerjay2005 wrote: »

hmmm, i dunno, i would think there are very few players at the high level, that are gay. i am probably making a sweeping generalisation here, but playing football is not something most gays do.

i of course be wrong on that, but every person i know who is gay, doesnt even follow football, let alone play it.

If that is true then football needs to do something to change that. But tbh, I doubt that it is true.

efb wrote: »

me and alot of my gay friends follow football.

That's good to hear. More power to ye.

Smokin_Aces

There was a character on Dream Team few years ago, the captain was gay, was going out the boss daughter (Or married, can't remember) so I think the reaction is the same as actors, some of them are gay and have an important role but don't want to come out in case of backlash and ruin how the audience views the show/film knowing the lead is gay/lesbian that could lead to a potential backlash etc.

So maybe that's why if there is any footballer who is gay that hasn't come out could be for the reasons above.

Kold

If you were gay in the Prem, would you come out? I know I bloody wouldn't. It's an unfortunate fact that homophobia is rampant in the culture of football and I see that lasting another decade at least. It's disgusting but it's a sticky issue to tackle. I reckon it's very likely that there are a few gay footballers but they're probably doing the right thing for their career by keeping the head down.

I hate Sol Campbell but some of the chants are shameful.

eagle eye

I know that there is a gay footballer playing for Blackburn Rovers. I don't think he has ever come out in public but all the players know he is gay and he never hid it from them and its never been a problem.

He gets dogs abuse in some away games. I don't know if he has come out in public but I don't think it would make much difference at this stage.

gosplan

Kold wrote: »

If you were gay in the Prem, would you come out? I know I bloody wouldn't. It's an unfortunate fact that homophobia is rampant in the culture of football and I see that lasting another decade at least.

True, it would be an impossible position for someone to put themselves in and it's a bit too much to ask of anyone.

Unfortunately, it's exactly what happens for things to change.

The other issue for players is that football is such an international sport. While coming out would be a difficult thing to do in England, the players concerned may end up looking to further their careers in other countries where it would be ten times as tough.

I mean racist chanting still goes on FFS and I can't think of a single club that doesn't have at least one black player.

I love football and it annoys me when people dismiss it as a game followed mostly by a group of neanderthals because they're kind of correct.

efb

I hate the homophobic cr@p I hear when I'm at football matches.

But then, some of these "supporters" need to hang round in groups so their brain cell won't get lonely.

CorkMan

People need to change the view of homosexuality? Show plenty of videos of hardened prisoners getting it on through the television. That'd sort it out!

efb

CorkMan wrote: »

People need to change the view of homosexuality? Show plenty of videos of hardened prisoners getting it on through the television. That'd sort it out!

Oz ftw!!!! :pac:

bantee

Graham Le Saux.

~Rebel~

bantee wrote: »

Graham Le Saux.

Never came out. has a wife and 2 kids and still says he's heterosexual, which he most probably is.

efb

bantee wrote: »

Graham Le Saux.

They called him Gay cos he said he read 'The Guardian' - gobsh1ts!

LuckyLloyd

One thing is for sure, the number of gay football players (or gay professional athletes in general) is waaaaaaay higher than the number that have come out and declared the fact.

TonyD79

Darren or Marcus Bent?:D

efb

TonyD79 wrote: »

Darren or Marcus Bent?:D

:rolleyes:

Just Contribute

TonyD79 wrote: »

Darren or Marcus Bent?:D

I just had to laugh... :pac:

wexfordia

Not sure how true this is but I heard ex-Arsenal star Marc Overmars came out when he was at Barca.

niallo27

John o Shea is the worst kept secret in football, even ferguson tried to marry him off

massdebater

Myself and one of my brothers used to tell our youngest brother (Liverpool fan) that Vladimir Smicer used to regularly bum Sammi Hyppia when they were at Liverpool

Doubt it's true though!

tommyhaas

wexfordia wrote: »

Not sure how true this is but I heard ex-Arsenal star Marc Overmars came out when he was at Barca.

I heard that too, dunno if its true though. Also heard Aerial Ortega was but again dunno how true it is. and that Guti went out with a transvestite, that was in the paper

Would be interesting to see if a club would keep it quiet for financial reasons. I mean I dont see too many of your average football fans getting someones name on a shirt or their merchandise for their kids of a player who has come out. Or maybe it would work the other way, could be a niche market

niallo27

massdebater wrote: »

Myself and one of my brothers used to tell our youngest brother (Liverpool fan) that Vladimir Smicer used to regularly bum Sammi Hyppia when they were at Liverpool

Doubt it's true though!

Can't see Sami being a taker

efb

There's alot of hot Liverpool players, past and present, but neither of those are.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Fairly sure I heard the Overmarsone too.

racso1975

I'm sure i heard glen johnson was.

efb

Christ I've heard them all..

Yiz can keep Le Saux, Cole, Campbell and O'Shea and glen johnson, I'll have the rest...!!!!

JPA

Overmars is married with kids, so unless he is pretending...

Bodhisopha

This thread is getting a bit "he said she said" now.

efb

more like, "she said, she said..."

tommyhaas

Bodhisopha wrote: »

This thread is getting a bit "he said she said" now.

Yea think your right. I reckon most of these accusations are based on upon chants from opposition fans. I love the logic behing the Grame Le Saux claims, ''Well if he dosent read the tabloids then he must have the ghey...'

The_Kew_Tour

Every player who has ever played for Arsenal seems to have been gay at some point.

I have few Gay mates one loved football but in no way would he ever dress up in a Gay way if he went to match to everyone.