23 Feb Italy national soccer stars: ‘Too difficult’ for a gay player to come out
Two players for Italy’s national soccer team have spoken out on the taboo of homosexuality in football.
Mattia Perin, a 21-year-old goalkeeper who has played in friendly matches for Italy, says it would be incredibly difficult for a gay player to come out.
Many football pundits, and gay fans of the game, predict 2014 will be the year when a top soccer star will reveal their sexuality and continue to play.
The world of soccer came to support former German national Thomas Hitzlsperger after he came out late last year.
‘Compared to other sports, our one, especially in Italy, is very conservative,’ Perin told Italia 1.‘I think it would be too difficult for someone to declare their sexuality at this time.’
But 31-year-old striker Alberto Gilardino says he would have no problem playing alongside a gay teammate.
‘I would have no problem having a gay teammate,’ he told Corriere dello Sport. ‘They are very normal people.
‘My wife and I have many gay friends, I don’t think I would be embarrassed at all to have gay teammates.’
Last year, Italy’s football captain Gianluigi Buffon was asked whether he would have any problems if his club hired an openly gay player.
He said his only concern would be whether he was a good footballer or not.
Source: Gay Star News