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Fifa's stance on homophobia is failing gay footballers Fifa's stance on homophobia is failing gay footballers
(about 11 hours later)
When the recently retired German footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger announced he was gay last Wednesday, there was an eclectic chorus of cheerleaders: David Cameron to Angela Merkel; Joey Barton to the niece of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay professional footballer. Rather slower to make its feelings known was Fifa, football's governing body. It waited more than a day before issuing a curt, beige statement.When the recently retired German footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger announced he was gay last Wednesday, there was an eclectic chorus of cheerleaders: David Cameron to Angela Merkel; Joey Barton to the niece of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay professional footballer. Rather slower to make its feelings known was Fifa, football's governing body. It waited more than a day before issuing a curt, beige statement.
Now, everyone agrees that a footballer's sexuality should not be a big deal in 2014, but Fifa's response still felt a little casual. Enthusiastically backing Hitzlsperger seemed like an open goal for the organisation, particularly with its recent patchy record on gay rights. The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia, which has introduced laws to ban gay "propaganda"; four years later, the tournament moves to Qatar, where homosexuality is still punished with a prison sentence. There is genuine speculation that players and spectators will be vetted by a Kuwaiti-engineered "gay test" in 2022.Now, everyone agrees that a footballer's sexuality should not be a big deal in 2014, but Fifa's response still felt a little casual. Enthusiastically backing Hitzlsperger seemed like an open goal for the organisation, particularly with its recent patchy record on gay rights. The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia, which has introduced laws to ban gay "propaganda"; four years later, the tournament moves to Qatar, where homosexuality is still punished with a prison sentence. There is genuine speculation that players and spectators will be vetted by a Kuwaiti-engineered "gay test" in 2022.
When Sepp Blatter, the Clouseau-esque president of Fifa, was asked in 2010 about the issue, he smiled and suggested that homosexual football fans would just have to "refrain from sexual activity" in Qatar. Pushed further last June, he deflected: "What you are speaking about… this is going into ethics and morals."When Sepp Blatter, the Clouseau-esque president of Fifa, was asked in 2010 about the issue, he smiled and suggested that homosexual football fans would just have to "refrain from sexual activity" in Qatar. Pushed further last June, he deflected: "What you are speaking about… this is going into ethics and morals."
But venturing into these thorny areas is exactly what Fifa should be doing. After years of punishing racism with ineffectual fines, Blatter recently suggested he would be getting tough: deducting points from clubs, eliminating them from competitions. Why should homophobia be any different?But venturing into these thorny areas is exactly what Fifa should be doing. After years of punishing racism with ineffectual fines, Blatter recently suggested he would be getting tough: deducting points from clubs, eliminating them from competitions. Why should homophobia be any different?
Last week, John Amaechi, the former NBA player who also announced he was gay on retirement, suggested that Fifa could resolve the issue in two years. It was not a matter of "pretty posters", but of players knowing they would be supported and abusive fans censured. Sadly, until Fifa takes a more proactive stance, it is hard to see a greater shift happening in the near future.Last week, John Amaechi, the former NBA player who also announced he was gay on retirement, suggested that Fifa could resolve the issue in two years. It was not a matter of "pretty posters", but of players knowing they would be supported and abusive fans censured. Sadly, until Fifa takes a more proactive stance, it is hard to see a greater shift happening in the near future.
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