Noticias

Still, -this was accentuated with the time- I had always felt uncomfortable with the whole image and culture of chauvinism (and homophobia) around football, which unfortunately is present and is seen as usual as part of the sport; at the expense of all the good values that we can learn from it, with the constant repetition of discriminatory actions that only sully the sport.

 
Football is one of the most representative and precious human creations. In countries like ours, it is also a social mirror. Football, in particular, equals any socio-economic difference, and shows the best and worst of us.
 
Two very opposite realities fit into female and male football. While in the first, flags of equality and respect are hoisted proudly, with big players like Abby Wambach or Nadine Angerer being openly lesbian, without implying a problem for their successful careers as a world champion and best player in the world respectively; it is impossible to find, at least for now, correlatives in the same discipline in males.
 
David Jones, English football player, wrote a column for The Observer where he encouraged his fellow gays to come out. He noted that this would even be a marketing victory for many clubs. The obstacle to overcome is the macho culture that finds -in an increasingly egalitarian world, against all odds- its last redoubt in the sport. Examples of the misogynist culture around football are: chants of fans, insults, even unfortunate statements of the protagonists that feed stereotypes and violent prejudices. Walls of language that continue to promote discrimination.
 
There are more signs that the sport does not have to be like this: In Spain and other European countries, for example, clubs are joining in a visibility campaign which respects sexual diversity. In other disciplines, such as basketball, Jason Collins became the first player to come out, a courageous decision taking into account the context.
 
Rio Olympics this year will be historic with changes in the regulations that allow trans athletes participate without surgery. Thus, the sport which has already been the scene of battles in pursuit of gender equality and against racism, being the case most recently sounded the request of wage equality between American male and female players-adds to the inevitable positive change in the world view regarding LGBT rights.
 
Sport -and here specifically, my beloved football- can also become an agent of social change. For the thousands of LGBT athletes and for a healthier society. By showing the red card once and for all to homophobia and sexism in the grandstands and on the court. From this conviction, it is possible to generate initiatives in different spaces that promote a much more tolerant of diversity language and thought admitting and a change of vision in pursuit of mutual respect.
 
However, the question remains:

How long will we wait before seeing the first football player in activity coming out?

 
The response and time depends on the joint commitment to create a much more friendly and supportive environment to facilitate it. And it means, ultimately, to tear down the last walls that remain.