most fans comfortable with gay players
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Most fans comfortable with gay players

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Most fans comfortable with gay players

Former German international Thomas Hitzlsperger
London - Arab Today

More than three-quarters of football fans across the globe would have no problem if a player in their national team came out as gay or bisexual, a poll showed on Wednesday.

Conducted by fan-opinion platform Forza Football and campaign group Stonewall, the survey asked more than 50,000 supporters in 38 countries about their attitudes towards inclusion and homophobia.

Equal rights campaigners hope the World Cup in Russia next year and the following tournament in Qatar in 2022 will be a chance to raise the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) rights in the two countries.

Overall, 76 percent of respondents said they would be comfortable with a player from their national team coming out as gay or bisexual, with nearly nine of 10 fans in Iceland and Ireland expressing this view.

At the other end of the spectrum, in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, only around one in 10 fans feels the same way.

The figure for Russia is nearly one in two, but just 14 percent of fans in Qatar said they would be happy with an LGBT player in their national side.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993 but prejudice is common and human rights activists allege widespread abuse. It is illegal in Qatar.

The highest-profile European footballer to come out is former German international Thomas Hitzlsperger, who played in England and Germany, but he only made his announcement in 2014 once he had ended his career.

"We believe the upcoming World Cups are an opportunity to shine a light on what the situation is like for LGBT people in Russia and Qatar and start conversations that can lead to positive change," said Stonewall chief executive Ruth Hunt.

The poll shows changes in attitudes since it was first carried out in 2014, when only one in five Russians said they would be comfortable with a gay or bisexual player.

When asked if football's world governing body FIFA should consider LGBT issues when awarding the rights to host a tournament, nearly two-thirds of fans worldwide agreed but just one in four Russians and one in seven Qataris said it should be a factor.

Patrik Arnesson, the chief executive of Forza Football, said: "Lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are part of the football community across the world and have as much right to play, watch and follow the game as much as anyone else.

"Organisations like FIFA and national leagues and governing bodies have a responsibility to ensure that fans across the world are educated about the importance of welcoming LGBT players and fans, and they must challenge discrimination and abuse at their tournaments."

Source:AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

most fans comfortable with gay players most fans comfortable with gay players

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

most fans comfortable with gay players most fans comfortable with gay players

 



GMT 03:07 2017 Wednesday ,25 January

Health care veterans, pioneers awarded

GMT 05:44 2017 Saturday ,11 November

Business as usual as Hamilton dominates Brazil practice

GMT 11:08 2018 Thursday ,25 October

Russia to be at very high level at conference on Libya

GMT 15:00 2012 Saturday ,21 April

Nelly Karim: Egypt akin to \'Hiya Fawda\'

GMT 03:02 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Egypt's President Sisi says will stand for re-election

GMT 00:51 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

HH the Emir Meets Foreign Minister of Kuwait

GMT 05:42 2017 Saturday ,02 September

64 dead in clashes in Raqa province

GMT 00:08 2017 Sunday ,05 March

Desperate migrants escape Libya 'hell'

GMT 19:24 2016 Saturday ,12 November

Israeli air forces attack Syrian position in Qunaitera

GMT 07:25 2017 Tuesday ,14 March

China's retail sales up 9.5% on-year in Jan-Feb

GMT 21:05 2017 Friday ,08 December

Saudi Assistant Defence Minister arrives in Bahrain

GMT 23:31 2017 Thursday ,09 March

HH Sheikha Moza to Visit Sudan, Tunis

GMT 11:45 2017 Saturday ,05 August

Fouad Al-Kaam wishes to shine
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday