Gay footballers | Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto comes out as gay

What I think if only to a small degree, has perhaps helped him to male this decision publicly, is that there are a fair few gay sports reporters, and women covering thd game now as well.

In the bad old days, when it was just old men reporting on the game, their stuffy old attitudes would permeate the stories that they put out, hence the god awful Justin Fashanou gotcha stories, whereas today, there are far more people that understand his situation and can write about this and tell his story in a far better way.
 
Pioneer, role model.

I hope he’s got a good support bubble. The Sun, Daily Mail, Express and that ilk are going to raise his profile massively while they dig for dirt and make it up when they can’t find any.

All the power to him.
 
I certainly don't think there should be any pressure on anyone but I would hope that what he says about older players potentially seeing a kid be brave enough and following his lead comes true and we actually have quite a few openly gay professional footballers in this country and others very soon.
 
Good luck to him. He said in the interview he scored 4 in the next game after telling his mum and sister, can imagine that would be a massive weight of his shoulders and now telling the world would be even more so.

Its brave thing to do at any age but at 17 and a professional footballer. Hope he gets a really good reception going forward.
 
Anyone have any idea how good he is and how much potential he has? Playing pro football at 17 sounds impressive- does he have a chance at a legit top level career?
 
Anyone have any idea how good he is and how much potential he has? Playing pro football at 17 sounds impressive- does he have a chance at a legit top level career?
Only just played his first game, so you'd have to follow Blackpool's kids to know.
 
Anyone have any idea how good he is and how much potential he has? Playing pro football at 17 sounds impressive- does he have a chance at a legit top level career?

He was their youth team player of the season so has a good chance of playing in the football league at least.
 
Delighted to read this. Feels like the fair and open-minded people are slowly starting to win the war over the idiots and guys like this are now comfortable to do something as normal as state as their sexuality.
 
How would he know? He'd probably know for the clubs he played for, obviously.

Generally through footballing circles. Players gossip and word gets around quickly. Degrees of separation in football is pretty low. There are a few players in the football league where it's a big open secret and everyone knows, but there's a big difference between that and being 'officially' out.
 
Good on him, I hope for his sake more come out and follow his example to help share some of the public pressure this will inevitably generate knowing some of our papers.
 
Really pleasing news, here's hoping it leads to a sea change in the sport and in life.

I think it's a lot easier for Gen-z and below to confront and take comfort in their sexuality and who they are, him being 17 and being able to do it must feel different to say, a 37 year old Ronaldo potentially doing it (yeah I know he isn't).

It'll be 'normal' soon enough, more power to him and well done for being the first to lead it.
 
Brave lad. I hope there will be quite a few to follow his footsteps to soften the burden on him solely.

While people might take the piss at the start it’ll soon be forgotten. I think most will appreciate his bravery.
 
Fair play to the lad. It's a brave move.

Then you have teammates like this thick cnut…



Isn't he's a practicing muslim?

Why should he be punished for not wanting to support something that might conflict with his own belief system?
 
Fair play to the lad. It's a brave move.



Isn't he's a practicing muslim?

Why should he be punished for not wanting to support something that might conflict with his own belief system?
He’s been seen in the past wearing replica kits of alcohol producers & betting sites.

Religion is one thing, selective intolerance is another.
 
I wonder if this will lead to a flurry of players coming out.

I hope/expect the reaction to be positive and ease others' trepidations. They are probably others who want to come out, but were reluctant to be the first.
 
I don't know why but I'm so proud of this young guy. Today is a good day.
 
He’s been seen in the past wearing replica kits of alcohol producers & betting sites.

Religion is one thing, selective intolerance is another.

Ah I see, forgot he played for Everton with the beer and betting sponsors.

Turns out he's just another religious hypocrite then so.
 
Fair play to the lad. It's a brave move.



Isn't he's a practicing muslim?

Why should he be punished for not wanting to support something that might conflict with his own belief system?
It's one thing to voice an opinion, it's another to cowardly miss a game every year to avoid wearing a shirt with pride colors without saying anything to the press or on social media. And it has to be noted that all the other Muslim players are not dumb enough to confuse acting against homophobia and promoting homosexuality.
 
A very brave kid. I wish him all the best. Will hopefully inspire other footballers to come out, if they wish to do so.
 
Isn't he's a practicing muslim?

Why should he be punished for not wanting to support something that might conflict with his own belief system?

He wasn't punished.

He didn't seem to have an issue advertising gambling when he was an Everton player.

If he's fine with gambling but not gay people then that's his choice but he can't use his religion as an excuse because he obviously doesn't actually give that much of a shit.
 
Gambling and alcohol is legal in Senegal whereas LGBT isn't. He's a national team player.
 
Ah I see, forgot he played for Everton with the beer and betting sponsors.

Turns out he's just another religious hypocrite then so.

Probably more likely is that the reports are nonsense and he missed the game for perfectly boring reasons.
 
Fair play to the lad. It's a brave move.



Isn't he's a practicing muslim?

Why should he be punished for not wanting to support something that might conflict with his own belief system?
I take issue with this phrasing. You can also practice and not be a fundamentalist. Or practice and not be a cnut.

To me, it implies he's anti gay because he's a good muslim as opposed to those that tolerate gay people because they're not as devout?

What does "punished" mean? If he doesn't want to wear company clothing, the company can take issue with that. In any other line of work he'd be out of job.