half a million gay footballers. None public WOT

It's a great prog... often catch it. Who knew sociology could be so interesting? Yes, maybe it's a vain hope, not to say ironic, to think that people want to be informed rather than carry on with the very misconceptions research, such as that presented, is trying to dispel :)

Chil LOL at you trying to persuade the other posters to actually listen to the programme they are discussing .

I must catch up on my Thinking Allowed podcasts. Laurie Taylor is my all time favourite lefty.

What lets football (and similar) crowds down is the mob mentality. Even the nicest, most PC person, when in the middle of a beer-fuelled crowd can find themselves chanting 'who's the bastard in the black?'... just because everyone else is doing it. (And why calling someone a bastard is not as bad as insulting their nationality, sexuality or skin colour beats me)

The professor on Thinking Allowed admitted that the research had been done online rather than in person around football grounds because going up to a fan standing with his mates and asking 'can I have your reactions to gay footballers?' might have made things difficult.

Gabby - I'm not sure what you mean by your first paragraph.

As for your second, it's not necessarily the case. Certainly one would struggle to call the likes of Klinsmann or Wenger uneducated. Some footballers are not very bright, but this homophobia has deeper roots then that.

Gabby - I'm not sure what you mean by your first paragraph.

As for your second, it's not necessarily the case. Certainly one would struggle to call the likes of Klinsmann or Wenger uneducated. Some footballers are not very bright, but this homophobia has deeper roots then that.

Here is a really article with Le Saux talking about the abuse he received. Just think if someone who wasn't actually gay got that much abuse, it's no surprise that there are no out footballers

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2419068.ece

The Chelsea defender mentioned upthread was the delectable Graeme Le Saux who read the Guardian and listened to Teenage Fanclub and was therefore seen as a ripe target for homophobic abuse.

I've heard whispers about certain players on Popbitch but nothing more than that. Very sad in this day and age.

I've been saying that for ages - as you say, it worked with racism (mostly - apart from anti-semitism ), so theoretically it should be possible with homophobia.

Presumably there would be some kind of FA campaign to discourage homophobic chanting the same as they've done with racist chanting. (Mind you, I'm sure Peter Crouch is getting pretty bored with the 'tall-ist' chants as much as Beckham did the anti-wife chants.) Just needs a few people to take the initiative.

Admittedly I am only going on the evidence I've seen and heard myself from the stands, Chil1234 - virtually the whole section of home/away fans singing homophobic songs. Sol Campbell was crucified everywhere he played.

"He was a guardian readers (unique amongst footballers"

David James writes for the Guardian (and presumably reads at least what he's written.) :)

You really should listen to the broadcast and the outcome of the research. It was notable precisely because it rather put paid to the impression that football fans are universally homophobic 'fucking idiots'.

I think the way forward will be as it was with MPs, film-stars, singers etc. i.e. some will be 'outed' by gay pressure groups, others will go public voluntarily, there will be next to no reaction from the fans and a few years down the track we'll all wonder what the problem was.

This poor gentleman kept his orientation secret from his family. (DM link warning - sorry). I suspect the secrecy is common.

Football is a completely different kettle of fish to rugby (was going to say a whole different ball game ). Opposing fans stand side by side in the stands, which would never ever happen in football. A gay player would still be hounded wherever he played - pathetic, but sadly true. Lots of football fans are fucking idiots, I'm afraid.

Fashanu was an openly gay professional footballer.

Even his delightful bastard of a brother disowned him, which probably didn't encourage anyone else to follow his lead .

Along with the HABs - husbands and boyfriends of women footballers.

Sadly, the vision of women players with an entourage is unlikely to materialise as anything other than a comedy sketch any time soon.

Will the day come when 'BAPS' (Boyfriends and Partners (Civil)) are accompanying the WAGS?

Not football, but remember when rugby player Gareth Thomas came out? Apart from the fact that it was an open secret in rugby circles (DH used to be semi-professional many, many years ago and still knows people involved in the sport) - lot of people around the sport were really scared of the public reaction. Which was to shrug and not be all that bothered. There seemed to be genuine surprise by sports pundits that noone really cared.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was similar issues with football - if those surrounding the players (teams, agents etc) are convinced it'll be a big deal and keep it secret, when actually most fans genuinely don't care who the players are shagging so long as they perform well on the pitch.

If you want to listen to the original broadcast and the person responsible for the research it's linked here

Gabbylogon. How did they work this out? It sounds incredible and false! How many footballers are there in the world? Not that I care, footballers (some of them) are too highly paid and loutish for my liking.

You're not making any sense at all now, I'm afraid. If you listened to the programme you'll have heard that the outcome of the survey was not 'young male footie fans are homophobic'... which is understandable as it would be in line with the rest of society.

This is the political board btw...