The present generation of football fans have no problem with top soccer stars being gay. A survey by researchers from the University of Staffordshire in Great Britain showed that 93 percent of fans think homophobia has no place in the game. Despite this, soccer players are still fearful of admitting they are homosexual.
Communications advisor Huub ter Haar thinks it’s time to put an end to this climate of fear surrounding gay footballers. He is working to ensure that gay players are accepted in the world of soccer, just as is now the case with their black colleagues. It's not so long ago that black players were pelted with banana skins. One difference, of course, is that everyone can see the colour of your skin, but your sexual preferences are not visible.
Exclusion
Sport unites people, both the players and supporters. Mr Ter Haar says exclusion doesn’t square with this. The starting point has to be toleration. Research shows that the fans have already been won over. The players are next.
"So most fans don't make a problem, but I think it's fear in the players. Self acceptance is a big problem for most sportsmen."
Coming out
Mr Ter Haar says it’s not accepted that people should be open about their sexuality in team sports such as football, hockey and volleyball. This makes it even more remarkable that Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas (35) came out as gay at the end of 2009.
Thomas became a national hero. Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke plans to make a film of his life and wants to play the man himself. It was hoped that other sportsmen and women would follow Thomas’ lead, but so far that hasn’t happened – certainly not as far as footballers are concerned.
Career
Football is played all over the world. Mr Ter Haar acknowledges there are countries where homosexuality can be a problem. Every player dreams of a great career. Many hope to play for a top club in Italy or Spain where homosexuality is not so accepted. That’s why they stay in the closet, out of fear that their sexuality could ruin their chances of a transfer to one of these clubs.
Players have to learn to accept who they are and trainers, coaches and colleague footballers have a part to play in this.
"I think it's very important that members of sport boards, trainers and also players are more involved in the problem and that they speak out in favour of gay players. They have to create a climate that’s safe. It's not a matter of just having a lot of success as a gay sportsman; that's only one side of the solution. I think the climate has to get better."
Dreams of the future
Mr Ter Haar admits that the acceptance of homosexuals in the world of sport – and certainly in football – is still difficult territory. But it would be good if supporters, clubs and the players themselves could learn to enjoy the skills of the sportsman, forgetting whether or not he’s attracted to other men.
"Actually I dream about the football world championships in 2022. I hope the final will be in Amsterdam. In the second half, a Dutch player scores the most beautiful and winning goal of the whole tournament. More than three billon people are impressed by this wonderful goal, and at the same time they all take for granted that he's gay. That's my dream."
Mr Ter Haar hopes for a successful Dutch Football Association (KNVB) bid to stage the World Cup in partnership with Belgium. And, after a great tournament, that it will finally get serious about making homosexuality accepted in the world of football. Only out gays in the sport will really make the difference.
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Hiram, gay people just ARE. They are not going to go away because you quote the bible or whatever. Straight people produce gay people ergo gays are a natural product and did not drop from the sky. Just deal with it will you and stop lecturing everyone. Embrace your inner gay and stop being so sanctimonius.
The message was one of "self acceptance"; therefore,if one has a problem with one's lifestyle, then one should change the behaviours which cause the problem. Some drug addicts have a problem with "self acceptance" because of their addiction and try to change the negative behaviours of addiction but there are those in the world who want to see people caught-up in their addiction in order to justify their addiction. The message was "if you have no problems with your lifestyle then enjoy what you do but if you don't like the way you are living, change the lifestyle. Waiting for you to evolve, please allow those who do not want to live the gay lifestyle to change and live a non-gay lifestyle. Is that so difficult to understand? Ignorance is a lack of understanding and it was reflected in your direct and straightforward loathing of non-gays or anyone who disagrees with your " thinly-veiled" opinion of hate. Not everyone who is gay enjoys his or her lifestyle and want to change, just like the drug addict, and one might think that some gay people would be out supporting the person(s) wanting to change. If one has a problem with " self acceptance" go out and support them with options on how to be positive and not just say they can not help it because they were born to be gay. Options are the way and your negative response was no option but a justification for lacking "self acceptance."
Hiram....you have just shown how difficult it is to be yourself. Comparing us with drug addicts is unbelievable and just shows me you are extremely ignorant. Why don't you change your "lifestyle", you know we dress the best, love flowers, we never sweat (cause our arms swinging all the time), your home will be designer, your hair will be in the latest style and you will be very trendy and you will love the old musicals when Hollywood stars were real stars. So you see Hiram its just that easy and alot of fun, so i know you would love it. When i became "gay" at 20 it was wonderful. My first "lifestyle" change was to watch all the Judy Garland movies.
Stay in your closet, Hiram, and be happy.
Matthew 6:5-6:
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.".........Anonymous, what I hear you saying is references to prayers but your quote is of prayers and how to pray. Is it hypocritical to give advice to someone who is troubled with living the lifestyle of a gay person , a criminal, or an an alcoholic? Your quote is from a spiritual road map for those who say they are Christians or want to become Christians. The quote I gave you in response was made to those who "were" homosexual offenders, thieves, and drunkards that were washed and sanctified by the Spirit and Christ and no longer lived such lives. If someone is having a problem with "self acceptance" (as those homosexuals, theives, and drunkards in my quote with their learnt behaviour of homosexuality, drugs, or alcohol) support them by giving options of change. The best option you can give is to tell them that all they have to do is knock on the door of Christ and the door will be opened!
It's simple, Hiram. If you're born black, you can't change and become white. Even if you want to, or society pressures you to. If you're born homosexual [and, yes, one is born homosexual, take my word for it], you can't change and become heterosexual. Even if you want to, or society pressures you to. You're not homosexual, so you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to believing that one actually has a choice in the matter. Footballer, or not.
"If you're born homosexual [and, yes, one is born homosexual, take my word for it], you can't change and become heterosexual.".......If what you said was true, then one has no choices or responsibilities for their actions. I know this is difficult to accept but one is conditioned slowly and overtime to become the sum total of his or her personality. One's personality at any given moment is acquired through a lifetime of both positve and negative conditioning. If one is content with being gay then one need not to make a justification "one is born homosexual" or any justifications but if one is not happy with any aspect of one's life, then one should remove the threads of discomfort making choices. No my friend, no one is born homosexual. That is just an excuse when no excuse is necessary.
I remain, waiting for you to evolve, please! Gay people's lives are not excuses to be changed. It's the 21st century, Hiram. Please stop, I'm really becoming embarrassed for you
When you use the word "evolve", you don't support your arguement that one is born gay. Evolve is a gradual change through conditioning over time; therefore, don't get embarrassed.
"So most fans don't make a problem, but I think it's fear in the players. Self acceptance is a big problem for most sportsmen.".........If one can not accept who he or she is, then one should change one's lifestyle. One doesn't become a homosexual by birth but by one's choice of alternatives. If you choose to play football (which is a choice), then play football and don't worry about what others think of you; but, if you have a problem with "self acceptance " change your lifestyle. Lack of Self acceptance is a a serious problem and one should remove the causes of the problem by removing the threads which cause the problems. Homosexuality is a thread in the fabric of life (just like any other trait) and one should remove the thread in order to change one's entire fabric.
Again, you show your ignorance and thinly-veiled loathing of gay people. No one chooses to be gay, certainly not in a world that includes others like yourself who only want gay people to go away, become straight [however that's supposed to happen!], cower in the closet, or worse. Please find another group of people to "harass" and give gay people the world over a break. All your homophobic comments do is increase the potential for violence and discrimination against gay people. Will you not stop your hate-mongering, Hiram? Let others live their lives in peace and treat them as you'd like to be treated. Is that so difficult?
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.