Top football players in the UK refused to take part in an anti-homophobia campaign for fear of humiliation by fellow players:
"The PFA was hopeful that some of the Premier League's stars would put their names and faces forward to support the campaign. But the Independent claims that the PFA have been unable to persuade anyone to take part.
The newspaper reports that players feared being ridiculed by both opposition players and supporters for appearing in the video, and being subjected to taunts and chants.
The Football Association eventually produced a generic 'viral' anti-homophobic video at the start of this week but now that has been pulled pending a full review of the entire campaign."
Pretty pathetic.
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Watch: UK Football Association's Anti-Homophobia PSA [tr]
Because obviously the gay players are not ready to come out - which is a different issue. We can criticise gay players who stay closeted however the large majority of top level players are going to be heterosexual and such a campaign can only be effective if it involves them. It is much easier to get involved in a campaign against racism which doesn't involve 'identity' suspicions than homophobia , which is why both closeted gays and genuine but unconfident heterosexuals are reluctant to involve themselves in it
Posted by: Den | Feb 13, 2010 4:23:22 AM
Yes, but the reality is that gay players are going to be FAR more invested in this campaign than the straights. It takes the gay player to come out and show that they are teammates/friends, y'know, put a face to it. I really can't begrudge the straight guys for not doing something that the gay players aren't willing to do themselves, especially when the campaing is FOR THEM. Somebody has got to lead and in my opinion it should be the gays.
Posted by: aL | Feb 13, 2010 4:46:46 AM
@ Everette: you are a dope. Just looking at your USA and thinking it's the whole world....it's not. Deal with it.
Straight guys supporting their gay friends has been , for me, one of the most encouraging experiences. I guess it's not that common and, as Andy posts, these guys are pretty pathetic......whether afraid of losing their endorsements or not.....
What ever happened "integrity" and standing up for what's right ?
Posted by: JackFknTwist | Feb 13, 2010 5:54:37 AM
Just as an FYI: Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't play in the Premier League anymore. He plays in Spain for the Spanish La Liga. (Neither does Beckham before anyone says anything)
I'm a big fan of the English Premier League (I know, I don't matter), and this really disappoints me. My secret boyfriend Frank Lampard should have stepped up.
Also of note: There are about a half-dozen members of the U.S. men's national team who play in the EPL... including our goal keeper Tim Howard and our star player Landon Donovan. I don't know for certain that they were asked.
Posted by: crispy | Feb 13, 2010 9:08:09 AM
Alan is right - endorsements. Which makes them not only cowards, but worse, unprincipled cowards.
Posted by: Jon Mitchell | Feb 13, 2010 9:33:40 AM
The gays should come out already and not worry about their endorsements....
Posted by: alan brickman | Feb 13, 2010 10:14:32 AM
Ahhh, so we assail the straight players for not defending their gay, closted teammates, but give the gay guys the pass?
I'm with Al and a couple of others who posted. If the gay guys can't (or won't) stand up and defend themselves, why should the straight guys?
There gets to be a point where your calls of "pussies" apply to the closeted gay football players, as well. Yes, it's wonderful when straight allies are willing to stand up and speak, but we have to do some speaking ourselves. And if you can't, how dare you expect the big straight guys to come and save you?
Take a loot in the mirror before hurling the insults.
Posted by: DR | Feb 13, 2010 10:47:21 AM
"And no one that matters cares about it, i.e., americans couldn't give a flying fuck."
Hah. And you assholes call me an America, fuck yeah! Fox News viewer? You sound like one those America first troglodytes. We make up less than 5% of the entire world and we're the ones that only matter? Get the fuck out with that stupid America-centric shit.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Feb 13, 2010 11:45:50 AM
And I this is why I think some of the more strident gay activists get really, really tiresome. Fighting small battles where you can't even see the forest from the trees.
You want to boycott everything that has even a faintest whiff of homophobia? Fine. Move to some commune miles away from away from anyone. Grown your own food (the food you eat was probably picked by some immigrant with anti-gay marriage views) and make your own clothes (the ones you are wearing were probably stitched together by some third world homophobe-oh no!). Sounds like a pro-gay paradise.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Feb 13, 2010 11:56:42 AM
@Den: I think you nailed it.
Posted by: DEREK WASHINGTON | Feb 13, 2010 12:34:08 PM
Um, this has more than just a hint to it. Soccer's by far one of the most homophobic sports on earth. And that's kind of ironic given how faggy it is.
Jane, go titty baby whine about how much the rest of the world's interests matter to someone who cares. Soccer may as well be jailai to the average american. In fact, I think bridge is more popular in the states.
Posted by: TANK | Feb 13, 2010 1:04:26 PM
Oh, and making this about the closeted players has nothing to do with the issue. These are straight players, and they don't even want to do a simple psa for fear of reprisal. Coming out would perhaps be life threatening. One has nothing to do with the other, but is an indication of just how homophobic mincing, nancified soccer is. Once again, you assholes simply don't get it.
Posted by: TANK | Feb 13, 2010 1:06:56 PM
These same average Americans think you shouldn't have marriage rights, protection from anti-discrimination laws and hate crime laws, and the right to serve openly in the military you moron. Yes, let's cater to what these hillbillies want and think.
Again, you're butt hurt because a few players in a sport you don't even watch or care about don't want to do some PC meaningless PSA that will do absolutely nothing to change attitudes or minds.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Feb 13, 2010 2:49:04 PM
Neither do average soccer watchers. So it's a wash. And I'll side with americans over the rest of the world any day. I'm an american first--not "america first," but an american first--and a citizen of the world second. And that has nothing to do with the average american, or my [lack of] respect for that particular creature.
I'm not catering to what they want. I couldn't care less. But, when it comes to things that matter in sports and...everything...america matters and the rest of the world...look, soccer's a girl's sport. It's for little girls. It's like field hockey only without sticks and dresses (though maybe they should wear those).
Posted by: TANK | Feb 13, 2010 2:56:33 PM
Dear Jane Roe,
Kindly fuck off. Since you're just looking for a fight, why not put on a pair of gloves and step into a ring. I'd be happy to spar with your nancy ass. That's an international sport across the board. No comparisons. I'm just sick to death of this we/us/you shit. Shut the fuck up unless you can stay on topic.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Feb 13, 2010 4:12:25 PM
Tank ;) please refer to the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAtxuCpsMU
Some of these real-life sit-down girls have bigger balls than the pros.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Feb 13, 2010 4:23:49 PM
I am on-topic, you insecure POS. Lol, just because you call your "masc" on your manhunt doesn't make you manly. Pipe down with that horseshit bravado, girlfraaaand.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Feb 13, 2010 4:39:20 PM
We are absolutely right to comment about closeted players. If they won't stand up for their own rights, why on Earth should we expect straight allies to stand up for them?
Sports culture needs to change, at least on some levels, anyway. But to assume that it's gotta be the straight guys who do all the work is absurd. Yeah, one could probably make the argument that there's a reason the straight guys are afraid of taunts (read: endorsements), but until the gay guys make it acceptable to be a pro athlete, it only serves to reinforce those fears.
The straight guys are not the only ones to blame, and it's naive to believe otherwise. The longer the gay ones hide, the more acceptable this behavior becomes.
Posted by: DR | Feb 13, 2010 6:37:05 PM
Gay players coming out is an entirely separate issue from straight players refusing to stand against homophobia. If straight players aren't even willing to do a simple PSA, the risk is much higher for a gay player. This is so obviously the case that it doesn't need to be explained to most of normal intelligence. Unless you're stating that they're equivalent (which is false), you don't have a dog in this fight.
Straights aren't doing "all the work," but to make a statement against homophobia for a straight player doesn't carry the same risk, and is just cowardice. Further, it trades on the notion that if only a handful of gay players came out of the closet, that these players would be willing to do this PSA, which is rubbish. How about straight people doing any of the work? That seems what you're defending--that straights shouldn't be doing anything to combat homophobia, when it is they who are responsible for it. This is your view, dr...and it's repulsive.
Posted by: TANK | Feb 13, 2010 7:30:06 PM
What pussies!
Posted by: Harry | Feb 13, 2010 8:48:36 PM
How come they'll line up to pose in their underwear for some of the world's best fashion designers (most of whom are openly gay), but not do this?. I feel like it's way gayer to pose in a mankini with your butt hanging out than it is to say ' calling people names is bullshit, and makes you look like a moron.'
Can't somebody in the UK make some humorous parody of this and call out the absurdity of not putting your dick on the line when it matters, but having no issue about putting your dick on the line when Armani is lighting it?
Posted by: James | Feb 13, 2010 9:37:46 PM
Again, giving the gay players a pass. Sorry, but we're not talking about coming out in a war zone or muslim country. We're talking about coming out in a soccer match, which, according to some posters is a "girly, pussy sport" anyway. So what exactly is the harm? Please spell it out, 'cause if the sport is so weak and silly and unmanly, what is the harm?
The reality (for those who live in it) is that nobody is going to bat for someone who isn't willing to go to bat for themselves. Black people didn't wait around for whites to stand up first and they had REAL dangers to face. Sorry, if I don't think some guy kicking a ball around has so much to "risk" by not stanind up for HIMSELF.
not a chance.
Posted by: aL | Feb 14, 2010 1:02:40 AM
What a bunch of PUSSIES! Scared they might be embarrassed? What does that say about their sexual self-confidence?
Posted by: candideinnc | Feb 14, 2010 9:22:50 AM
True, Al. But it appears some need validation and approval from straights before any action is worth a damn. That's why many were fawning over Fujita of the Saints when he made some pro-gay statements. I mean it's nice and all he said what he did, but you know what would be ever better? If a pro football (American) player who is currently playing (read: NOT retired) came out. That would be something else.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Feb 14, 2010 11:44:45 AM
The popular culture myth that the Brits, Euros, Canadians are morally superior to Americans across the board, including of course regarding gay rights, is just that, a myth. Look more closely at gay rights laws, marriage, civil unions, across the EU and certainly the UK, and it doesn't hold up well to close scrutiny.
Everyone should bear in mind there were no popular votes on any gay rights legislation in EU countries or the UK. These laws, including civil unions (actually gay 'Marriage' is still rare even in the EU) were and are passed by legislators under political systems that allow a government to do things in a fashion that is very difficult to replicate in the US at federal, even local state, levels. I've traveled extensively throughout the EU and overall attitudes towards gays among 'Average' citizens is little different from what you'd find in America. Many leftist Euros jump on gay issues as a sort of springboard to attack America. The issue is simply a convenient conduit. Ditto the UK. The UK has what I call the 'Latin Disease'.....MANY bisexuals, few gay men.
Canadian gay marriage law is the result of court action, certainly Canadians didn't wake up one morning and say lets pass a law approving of gay marriage. As an American INTIMATELY familar with Canada, Canadian culture and Canadians are no more or less 'Homophobic' than America and Americans. Even Massachusetts gay marriage law is, like Canada, the result of court action.
Posted by: John in Boston | Feb 14, 2010 11:49:52 AM