LGBT Homophobia at the Football Ground

It seems like stigma and prejudice around men and women playing football has been around forever as the sport fails annually in delivering on Equality and Inclusion The 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada showcased elite players from across the globe, many of whom in the competition will for the first time be paid a wage to train and compete professionally. While the men’s professional game has been reluctant to be fully inclusive and supportive of anyone within the game who identifies as LGBT, it's generally regarded that football is much more accepting of women who are lesbian, bisexual, trans/other or any gender identity. But exactly how true is this? With society in general a little more accepting of homosexuality these days, players are out to team mates, coaches and managers in numbers compared to say 10 years ago. But still very few playing at the highest level are out publicly where they can be seen as much needed role models for young people to look up and aspire too. Asking why this is, a number of reasons exist. Some state it’s a non-issue, some are ‘out’ to their team but not to family members or friends, some are not out to work colleagues, some still fear being vocal about sexuality will affect endorsements or chances of being selected for team or country. Others quiet simply want to keep their private life just so, and others see a need to protect partners or family from bigotry or abuse. Coach: Pia Sundhage - SwedenA former Sweden International Pia told the media, "There has been no problem for me to be openly gay as head coach in the USA team." She went on to say that she and her partner received a solid welcome in the U.S. "If people ask me about it”, I answer “Yes I’m gay and that’s how it is. I’ve never come across any trouble for it as a coach in the United States or anywhere. It was tough when I was twenty-years-old in Sweden, but even then I didn’t care. This is me. Take it or leave it."