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FA tackles homophobia in football
The Football Association
FA confirms its commitment to tackling homophobia in 2009
"Although it is only a minority of homophobic fans who are creating problems, they are quite sizeable and vociferous"
The Football Association has revealed that it will be collaborating on a DVD to tackle homophobia in the sport.
The professional DVD would be created to tackle the ongoing problem of homophobia in the game. It follows in the footsteps of similar initiatives set up by the Kick It Out group, which tackles racism in football.
Peter Tatchell, a human rights activist, said after a meeting with the FA, the Professional Footballers Association and Kick It Out that their aim was to feature big-name football stars in the DVD, among them David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.
Tatchell, who is a candidate for the Green Party, continued:
"We're pressing the FA to get this video broadcast on TV and at matches on the giant stadium screens. We also want the FA to put it on YouTube and distribute copies to every school in the country.
"We expect the video to have a global impact and reach football fans all over the world; helping break down prejudice and thereby make the game a more welcoming and safe sport for gay players and spectators - not just in Britain but internationally.
"Although it is only a minority of homophobic fans who are creating problems, they are quite sizeable and vociferous. Many gay spectators currently feel threatened and excluded. It is also a turn off for straight families to be surrounded by aggressive, homophobic hooligans."
Although a spokesperson at the FA said no players had been approached yet and revealed that funding is still in discussion, they claim that the production should begin "in the next few months."
While homophobic abuse is against the rules at every Premier League and Football League club, anti-gay chants are still commonplace. Last year Portsmouth FC’s Sol Campbell, was subject to a torrent of abuse during a Premiership game against his previous club, Tottenham Hotspur.
There are currently no out gay footballers in Premier League and Football League. In 1990 Justin Fashanu came out as the UK's first and only openly gay player. The footballer, who played for Norwich, Nottingham Forest and Hearts, committed suicide eight years later, which a coroner concluded could have been because of the prejudices he experienced in the game.
