Football and being gay: in 2014, is it right for players to hide their sexuality?

Football and being gay: in 2014, is it right for players to hide their sexuality?

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Earlier last year, recently retired American footballer Robbie Rogers announced to the world that he was gay. The news was so heavily reported on for the reason that few homosexual players have openly announced their sexuality to the press - something that happened again in early 2014 when the recently retired German footballer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, announced that he was gay. Interestingly though, it was noted that both players came out after a public campaign (see photo above) which has attempted to have players come out to combat 'homophobia' within football. It was also noted though that both of these players came out after retiring from the game.

The debate has been focused mainly on two argument: firstly, that players should begin to announce their sexuality in 2014 and not hide it anymore - a gay footballer playing openly could very well serve as a rolemodel to a young gay person. On the other hand, it's argued that the campaign has put unneeded pressure on what is ultimately a private matter for the player and that any player - at least in English football - would be baracked on the pitch with abuse, as is in the nature of the game itself.

So what do you think? Should players be encouraged to come out, should they not - or does it not matter in the slightest?

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The debate is open to you.

I think they are perfectly right to hide their sexuality. Football players already get enough abuse as it is from supporters and from other players, so I can imagine it would suddenly be a whole lot worse if they revealed themselves as gay. I guess that's why all the people that come out as gay are all retired, so they don't have to face the abuse on the pitch.

The benefits don't outweigh the negatives in this case.

Considering the fact that the only top-flight player in history to have ever come out while his career was still going got hounded by the media and the law until he killed himself, I'm not surprised that Rogers and Hitzlsperger waited until they'd left the game to announce themselves. We can pretend to live in an accepting and accomodating society and to an extent we do in this country, but the world of football still for some reason believes it's a macho man's man club. What might happen to them on the pitch is nothing compared to what they'd get elsewhere in that environment

I only would say it's not right if they have girlfriends and what not. If they do not admit nor deny being gay, I see no problem. I'm not a massive football follower but all the boys who talk about football that I know use a lot of homophobic slur and I can see the way that could turn out.

Provided they stay classy I don't care. Footballers, rugby players and many of the real sportsmen seem to just come out and leave it at that, which is how it should be. It shows that being gay isn't something to be hyped up or looked down upon - it's considered normal and incredibly dull and boring like ordinary human existence. They come out, life goes on and there's a lack of interest. It's a shame the same can't be said for certain "famous" Olympians who are social media *****s who come out on webcam, say they don't want a big deal made of it, then go on a talk show to explain themselves like no-one knows what gays are in 1976/1988 2013 and that it's something to be frowned upon, undoing the effort to remove homosexuality as a social faux-pas-come-novelty item. It seems tacky and makes whoever they are look a bit pathetic really, as if they're a sponge trying to soak up self-induced pity when all they have to do is stay natural, say they're gay, members of society with enough brains cell to go around shrug their shoulders and life goes on. Why salaciousness is still a thing these days is beyond me. If you're a gay male or a straight female, you can still enjoy imagining them seeing as you have little chance getting with them anyway.

Society should see homosexuality, heck, sexuality in general as something no one should care about, that's true equality. Nothing is more annoying than people who think being gay or straight is amazing or disgusting - it's sexuality, we all have it.

No-one should have to hide their sexuality whether they are footbal players or not. Being gay isn't something to be ashamed of if anything its very common these days (in my opinion anyway). I think its more the stereotype that everyone has for a football player (really manly). Although, you can still be gay and manly.

You don't go up and ask every footballer if they're straight, so why on earth would you even need to know they're gay? It doesn't matter what they are.

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Originally Posted by Mk,

You don't go up and ask every footballer if they're straight, so why on earth would you even need to know they're gay? It doesn't matter what they are.

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You'd be surprised what people would do to be in the spotlight :P!

O/T: I understand your point about why would you need to know however a lot don't feel they could ever announce their sexuality simply because of what the stereotype is of the average football player. (Although, that comment isn't just aimed at football players it's aimed at some other sports too).

At the end of the day it's up to them if they want to hide it or not. But in my opinion I would rather come out myself than to have the media find you with another guy. In today's society I don't think they should feel ashamed to come out, but it's their choice and they may still be 'exploring' the idea.