Reading F.C. against homophobia apparently.

[P!ssed Off]

Is there a problem with homophobia in football? Can't say I've ever witnessed anything, other than the chants at Brighton fans.

Of course there is. It's a bigger problem than racism.

C'mon - I bet when lads on here are with their mates and one of them is wearing something pink or slightly feminine' they'll say "You b3nder". Footballers are no different.

So you're saying the homophobia in football is between the players - I thought it meant the fans.

Of course it is.
You can take the working class out of the stands, but you'll never take it off the pitch.

(if anyone is offended by this comment, pretend it is a joke).

[Royal Lady]

Not sure why the need for the club to large it up about this then? How do we know whether they are saying anything to each other re homophobia in the dressing room/training pitch/during a game? And to be honest, if RFC are saying their own players say homophobic stuff to each other, they should be ashamed of themselves!

I thought they meant RFC were going to stamp out homophobic comments from fans and, as I said earlier, I've only ever heard the chants towards Brighton fans.

[Ouroboros]

Apparently, 100% of gay british footballers don't feel they can be open about their sexuality.

I wonder how they got to that statistic? - I'm sure there must heterosexual British footballers who are also not open.

I think you need to read my post again and think it through carefully.

[P!ssed Off]

Not sure why the need for the club to large it up about this then? How do we know whether they are saying anything to each other re homophobia in the dressing room/training pitch/during a game? And to be honest, if RFC are saying their own players say homophobic stuff to each other, they should be ashamed of themselves!

I thought they meant RFC were going to stamp out homophobic comments from fans and, as I said earlier, I've only ever heard the chants towards Brighton fans.

There's no "largeing it up".
We've merely said as a club we are 'against homophobia'.
Which as many have already said is pretty non-event.

[Royal Lady]

But before the game, Jobi was going to sign some charter or other? What happens if one of them breaks it?

[Royal Ginger]

I don't know if it's that directly related to the club. With the well publicised issues in Russia surrounding the Olympics, I saw it more as a decent PR opportunity supported by a good cause/hot topic.

[Royal Lady]

Maybe you're right - I just think it odd that they're campaigning against this, when we have no idea which players, or how often, make homophobic remarks - and I guess we never will, so we'll never know if this "charter" thing was worth it in the first place, tis all.

[P!ssed Off]

Apparently, 100% of gay british footballers don't feel they can be open about their sexuality.

I wonder how they got to that statistic? - I'm sure there must heterosexual British footballers who are also not open.

I think you need to read my post again and think it through carefully.

His comment makes sense.
You say 100% of gay British footballers are not open about their sexuality because they don't feel they can be open about their sexuality.

RB points out that many heterosexual footballers choose not to be 'open' about their sexuality.
Therefore RB may be suggesting that some gay footballers may just not want to discuss their love life, even if they feel they can.

[Ouroboros]

Perhaps you are right.

Personally, I read the dash used by RB as an indication that the two halves of his post were supposed to be related and that the second sentence was supposed to support the first.

[Royal Biscuitman]

Apparently, 100% of gay british footballers don't feel they can be open about their sexuality.

I wonder how they got to that statistic? - I'm sure there must heterosexual British footballers who are also not open.

I think you need to read my post again and think it through carefully.

Sorry, two separate points.

How do they know a footballer is a gay footballer and can not be open about his sexuality if they are not open about it to the person conducting the survey.

I also think there are a lot of footballers who keep their lives private - It can be done, even at the highest level, Paul Scholes being the obvious example. He also chooses to keep his private life private - I assume he isn't gay, but must have his reasons.

Isn't there a gay world cup? - Were those players included in this survey?

[Green]

Are we to assume by your rather flippant attitude you don't think there's a problem in the game Forbes

[southbank1871]

Chances are a decent number of gay players are ‘out’ within their dressing rooms, it’s just not made public.

[Royal Lady]

Chances are a decent number of gay players are ‘out’ within their dressing rooms, it’s just not made public.

But if there's homophobia amongst their fellow team members/other players - maybe they aren't even "out" in the dressing room. It's a reall shame that someone should feel they can't be open and honest about their sexuality if they want to be without their co-workers, for want of a better phrase, belittling them about it or whatever.

[No Fixed Abode]

Is there a problem with homophobia in football? Can't say I've ever witnessed anything, other than the chants at Brighton fans.

Of course there is. It's a bigger problem than racism.

C'mon - I bet when lads on here are with their mates and one of them is wearing something pink or slightly feminine' they'll say "You b3nder". Footballers are no different.

So you're saying the homophobia in football is between the players - I thought it meant the fans.

Both fans and players. When a players goes down easily, you'll hear "get up you poof" and "she fell over" (sexist) from the fans. Both of which are unacceptable. I haven't got a problem with it as such, but when people are overly touchy on racism, it's has to be class as bad.

[Ouroboros]

Sorry, two separate points.

How do they know a footballer is a gay footballer and can not be open about his sexuality if they are not open about it to the person conducting the survey.

I also think there are a lot of footballers who keep their lives private - It can be done, even at the highest level, Paul Scholes being the obvious example. He also chooses to keep his private life private - I assume he isn't gay, but must have his reasons.

Isn't there a gay world cup? - Were those players included in this survey?

Okay, firstly - there is no survey. It was a joke.

My point is (and I concede it would have been better made by saying "100% of gay british footballers have decided not to come out") is that even if a large number of those are out amongst teammates and friends, and don't feel the need to advertise their sexuality, that still most likely leaves a significant number who wish they could be open, but decide against it because of fear of intolerance amongst teammates or fans.

I think it’s reasonable to look at the fact that there are no openly gay British footballers at all and suggest that yes, there probably is a problem with intolerance, at least in the perception of a proportion of gay players.

[Ouroboros]

Chances are a decent number of gay players are ‘out’ within their dressing rooms, it’s just not made public.

Possibly. However I think if that was particularly common one or two stories might have been leaked by team-mates, or by partners of team-mates, or whatever.

[Green]

Sorry, two separate points.

How do they know a footballer is a gay footballer and can not be open about his sexuality if they are not open about it to the person conducting the survey.

I also think there are a lot of footballers who keep their lives private - It can be done, even at the highest level, Paul Scholes being the obvious example. He also chooses to keep his private life private - I assume he isn't gay, but must have his reasons.

Isn't there a gay world cup? - Were those players included in this survey?

Okay, firstly - there is no survey. It was a joke.

My point is (and I concede it would have been better made by saying "100% of gay british footballers have decided not to come out") is that even if a large number of those are out amongst teammates and friends, and don't feel the need to advertise their sexuality, that still most likely leaves a significant number who wish they could be open, but decide against it because of fear of intolerance amongst teammates or fans.

I think it’s reasonable to look at the fact that there are no openly gay British footballers at all and suggest that yes, there probably is a problem with intolerance, at least in the perception of a proportion of gay players.

Exactly Ouroboros, exactly. Especially when you compare to other sports, and even more so other professions.

[southbank1871]

Sorry, two separate points.

How do they know a footballer is a gay footballer and can not be open about his sexuality if they are not open about it to the person conducting the survey.

I also think there are a lot of footballers who keep their lives private - It can be done, even at the highest level, Paul Scholes being the obvious example. He also chooses to keep his private life private - I assume he isn't gay, but must have his reasons.

Isn't there a gay world cup? - Were those players included in this survey?

Okay, firstly - there is no survey. It was a joke.

My point is (and I concede it would have been better made by saying "100% of gay british footballers have decided not to come out") is that even if a large number of those are out amongst teammates and friends, and don't feel the need to advertise their sexuality, that still most likely leaves a significant number who wish they could be open, but decide against it because of fear of intolerance amongst teammates or fans.

I think it’s reasonable to look at the fact that there are no openly gay British footballers at all and suggest that yes, there probably is a problem with intolerance, at least in the perception of a proportion of gay players.

I think it is more perception than anything. I'm sure there would be some terrible things said by opposing fans and players, but I think any current players coming out would be surprised by the reaction of pretty much everybody.

[NewCorkSeth]

Reading FC "We are coming out against homophobia in football once and for all"
Fans "Is there a problem with homophobia in the club?"
Reading FC "Erm, no but we don't like it so we are against it"
Fans "Oh, that's good what are you doing to combat homophobia in football"
Reading FC "We put up a plaque"

[No Fixed Abode]

Reading FC "We are coming out against homophobia in football once and for all"
Fans "Is there a problem with homophobia in the club?"
Reading FC "Erm, no but we don't like it so we are against it"
Fans "Oh, that's good what are you doing to combat homophobia in football"
Reading FC "We put up a plaque"

At least they're raising awareness on the subject