Jake Daniels, a 17 -year -old midfielder who plays for club Blackpool in the English second division, became the first active British professional player to appear in public on Monday.
This season has been great for me on the pitch. I played my first pro against, scored 30 goals plus reserves, signed my first pro contractsaid the player in a press release on his club’s website.
But off the pitch, I hid who I really was. I knew all my life that I was gay and I felt like I was ready to do it myself coming out and be myselfhe continued.
In the 1990s, Justin Fashanu was England’s first openly gay professional player, but he was playing at the amateur level when he gave his tabloid interview. The day.
Victim of insults and homophobic behavior after revealing his homosexuality, the former Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker committed suicide eight years later.
Being gay, bi or queer is still forbidden in men’s footballsaid Jake Daniels in an interview with Sky Sport.
I think it’s because a lot of footballers want to be known for their manhood. And people see being gay as a weakness, something you can evoke on the pitch.he continued.
But as far as I can see, I play football and (the spectators) may yell things at me, but they pay to see me play and I make money that way. So let them shout what they want, it won’t changethe young man retorted.
Jake Daniels ’announcement was greeted with an outpouring of messages of condolence from across English football.
You are an inspiration to us all, Jakefor example, the Leicester club wrote on its Twitter account.
Football is a sport for everyone, with diversity at its core, and it’s a big step in the right direction as we try to create a truly inclusive sport that we can all be proud of.added the English Football Federation.
Source: Radio-Canada
