14/02/2023
The Daily Mirror says that football still has a major problem with homophobia, and that the generally hostile atmosphere in some stadiums is turning not just LGBT+ people, but also families and other minority groups off the game. Recent incidents have included a youth team harassing players from the celebrated gay led side Stonewall FC, right through to offensive chants at Premier League clubs. The Daily Mirror report analyses how clubs can change to make the sport more LGBT+ friendly and for that matter, family friendly. A coalition of groups, including Football v Homophobia, Pride in Football, Sports Media LGBT+ Group and Women in Football have issued a joint statement asking for the football authorities to take more action against people who abuse other fans or players. The statement reads in part “"As groups representing LGBTIQ+ people, our expectation is that the football authorities and clubs make tackling homophobia and wider LGBTIQ-phobia a priority to prevent a spread of the abuse we have seen. Football has to ensure that stadiums do not become a safe space for homophobes.”
https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/
https://prideinfootball.co.uk/
