Jackson Irvine: “We need to talk about gay rights” – FIFPRO World Players’ Union – FIFPro

I’d like to talk to you about a subject really close to my heart. I have family and friends who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community – a group of people who, for a long time, have been massively marginalised and discriminated against. I want to speak up for them.

Let’s be clear here: homophobia in football is still a problem. There are a lot of issues facing sport and football in general – and I think any kind of toxic masculine atmosphere, which football unfortunately has sometimes, doesn’t make people from the gay community feel welcome and part of the game.

That has to change – and it has to change now.

We, as players, have a big role to play. Education and making information available to those in football is going to play a massively important part, as is us speaking up.

That’s something I’ve had to do on some occasions during my career, when I’ve heard homophobic language. What’s positive is I’ve found the response to be generally receptive. Sometimes people will have beliefs which are totally ingrained and are difficult to change over the course of a short discussion. But even then, when they realise the majority are in support of the gay community, it clearly shows them that the way they speak is not acceptable.