Homosexual and lesbian sportspeople could be encouraged to come out based on the results of a BBC poll which found 82% of sports fans would not be upset if their club signed a gay player
Ian Thorpe and Martina Navratilova
Ian Thorpe and Martina Navratilova
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London: Homosexual and lesbian sportspeople could be encouraged to come out based on the results of a BBC poll which found 82% of sports fans would not be upset if their club signed a gay player.
Nevertheless the BBC Radio 5 live poll — which took soundings from 4000 people — also reveals 8% of football fans would cease supporting their club if they sign a gay player. And 50% of football fans polled said they had heard homophobic abuse at matches — compared to 59% who heard racist abuse. However, 71% of football fans polled also said clubs should educate fans on homophobia.
Supporters' attitude to homosexual players does remain an area of concern certainly for the governing body of English football, the Football Association.
Greg Clarke, chairman of the FA, told the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sports Committee last week he would not encourage players to come out — Thomas Hitzlsperger is the most high profile footballer to reveal his homosexuality but he waited till he had retired.
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