Why The Media And Not The Fans Is The Real Problem Concerning Homophobia In Football

If there’s one sport in the UK that is perceived to have a big problem concerning homophobia it’s football. Apparently completely void of any gay footballers since the suicide of Justin Fashanu back in 1998, the reality is no-one believes that there isn’t a gay footballer in the professional football leagues, so why is this sport in such denial about the issue of homosexuality? Some say it has to do with the response of the fans in the stands. Others attribute it to how it would change the dynamics of a team if they found out one of their team mates was gay and then there’s perhaps the biggest problem of all. The media and how it would act to make a life that had been secret for so long suddenly very very public.

So what is the real truth about the issue of homophobia and football, and more importantly what do we need to do to make a change? Well that’s no easy question to answer, but let’s give it a go.

Speaking to The Justin Campaign following his documentary “Inside Sport – Football’s Last Taboo” BBC Radio 1 DJ and sports presenter Mark Chapman made it clear  that there is one truth about  homophobia. That it is real, and is an issue that needs to be dealt with, but for him it’s not just about inclusiveness, Mark also believes that it would be good in terms of level of performance, citing how the additional stress of hiding your sexuality could easily act to impinge on how well you perform.

So whose fault does he think it is? For Chapman some of the blame has to go to the football authorities for their lack of action, though not for how they deal with homophobic abuse because he doesn’t actually believe that to be the issue. For Mark, he believes the problem is when sportsmen actually come out citing how it was only once Gareth Thomas came out “he started getting abuse about taking it up the arse”, and so therefore the solution is to educate both supporters and teams that this isn’t acceptable so when a player does come out, they come out and accepted, not suddenly going from being just another talented footballer to the harassed one.

So how does Chapman feel the problem should be solved? By growing up. I know what you’re thinking that’s far too throwaway and simplistic, but the reality is what Chapman is saying is true. The problem with negative responses to homosexuality, particularly concerning sport, isn’t because of religious beliefs, it’s down to people acting like they’re still in the playground and thinking it’s amusing to shout insulting things at other people. It’s because they think they’re being clever and when if no-one strict headmaster in the form of the FA is going to come out and tell them that it isn’t funny, that it’s offensive and they wouldn’t like it if people did it to them they aren’t going to stop. It’s too much fun for them.

And part of the reason Chapman isn’t so fussed about the fans is because he doesn’t seem them to be the problem. He puts that down to one thing. The media and their increasingly intrusive behaviour.  A player coming out and be called “faggot” or “poof” on the pitch by supposed fans would be hard, but the real negative result of coming out? That would be the media on your doorstep. The media at your parents. The media writing about the boyfriend you never actually had and the blurred photos every time you step out of a gay club. And the sad reality is none of us can talk our way out of this one. It is going to happen, with the only conciliation being eventually it will die down. Eventually people will get bored. The problem is though we’re talking about people and their lives. It’s all very well to say once three or four people come out everything will quieten down for the rest of us, but these three or four people are real people, people with emotions, people with families. People who are truly going to suffer to make it easier for the next generation of gay footballers. It’s not an easy sell is it.

Or maybe it is if Staffordshire University research is anything to go buy with a survey of 2,000 supporters finding only 7% felt there was no place for homosexuals in football, and according to senior sociology lecturer Jamie Cleland, that  homophobia “… should be stomped out and they felt that it brought shame on football”.  And it didn’t end there  with Cleland also highlighting interesting discovery that could lead the media to find out that sensationalising and outing footballers would act not to sell them more papers, but have quite the opposite effect with many calling great transparency and saying “they would prefer it if gay footballers came out because they don’t think they would have to put up with that much abuse.”

Still though it’s going to take a very brave gay footballer to be the first to dip his toe in coming out water and see just how bad it really might be.