its time to kick homophobia out of football

This coming weekend, top European leagues will join the LGBT community in the campaign against homophobia. I am happy for the initiative that would eventually open up the sport to everyone.
As we match towards the attainment of such,  a lot needs to be done.

Back in 2015, I posted the following article on my Blog.

It's time to kick out homophobia

Football is a game that has made people of diverse heritage converge . Things have not always worked for the 13th player for every team.

Team Managers have always tried to open up the stadium for everyone.  The war against the unwanted ball rolling inside field of play has continued despite the setbacks.

A lot has been said but who really needs to make this possible? Is the topic debatable? Is it possible to win the war against homophobia in Africa? How does the domestic leagues kick the homophobia out of the stadiums and open the game to everybody?

To begin with, Arsenal FC team in London UK initiated Arsenal For Everyone initiative which has widely seen the increment of Gunners of LGBTQ attending matches at Arsenal Emirates stadium. Other teams like WestBromovic Albion picked up the initiative and today North London boasts of the highest LGBT football following which includes Tottenham Hotspurs FC LGBT group and Gay Gooners.
Arsenal as a team has been ridiculed by fans in Germany after Bayern Munich fans displayed a banner in their Allianz Arena stadium calling the visitors Gay gooners with manipulative logo. UEFA punished FC Bayern Munich for allowing such banners in their stadium and Arsenal manager later told Club official website that its time English football open doors for openly gay footballers.
"I think football is there to provoke moments of happiness, excitement and positive experiences in people, no matter where they come from, what color skin they have, what religion they are or what their preferred sexuality is,” Wenger told the web site. “It’s very sad that some people think that this sport should only be reserved for those who have certain characteristics. It’s open to everybody who loves football and when that doesn’t happen, it’s not acceptable.”

The last English player to come out as gay while still active in football was Justinus Fashanu who had a debut for Norwich City FC in 1978. He played for other English football league teams such as Nottingh Forest FC, Notts County, Brighton and Hove Albion before signing with Australian Adelaide City FC and it was in his brief career in US and Canada teams where he abruptly ended his 7 yrs stint after he announced to the world that he was gay.

Fashanu received criticism from fans, Players, friends, his own brother who was a three lions player and other parties because he was different. That did not move Fashanu but a 17yr old boy in Maryland did, the boy accused him of assault prompting the police to search his house.

Fashanu panicked and fled the US in April 1998 to England where he hung himself in a garage leaving a note that reiterated his innocence and stressed that there was consent from the accuser as provided for by Maryland law were official consenting age is 16 and the boy was 17yrs. To date Just in us remains to be the only English player to have come out while continuing with his career.

FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Nuer in 2012 urged fellow footballers to stop fearing to be true to themselves and the times and world has changed. He said being gay doesn't make one not deliver in and off the field its a choice for the player.
Some players find it hard to lead a false public life for the sake of the game. US international Winger and striker Robie Rogers stunned the football world after he hung boots when he was barely 25yrs. For many were astonished as at that age a player is most productive and has wealthy of experience especially for the national team. Rogers played for a string of top flight teams such as Columbus Crew where he won both US MLS open Cup and 2 MLS supporter cup before joining English sides Stevenage and Leeds united where he made 4apps for the latter before on mutual consent to end 7 years careers to announce to the world that he was gay.

Well Rogers effort did not go without recognition as Arsenal in the same year ran a commercial of I can't change who I am staring Olivier Giroud, Mikel Arteta, Theo Walcott and kieran Gibbs to martial support for the players who felt the game was too homophobic . In the future of the initiative, Teams have formed LGBTQ groups with Arsenal having the largest Followed by Charlton and Spurs.

Do we have a place for homosexual footballers in our modern day game? Well the back stops with the 13th player of every team and that is the fans of each team. Its sad players such as Fashanu and Robbie Rogers exit from the game just because they could not stand the hatred.

Many Arsenal fans love Abou Diaby for kicking racism out of football, Who will be the hero of kicking Homophobia out of football? Definitely its you and me and we would see the end as a family of the same goal and that is to try and win trophies for the now turned to be a faith.

I welcome thoughts from you on my Hash tag #AgendaCentralKe and share what you think should be done.