There are many less-than-learned pundits who will tell you there is no place for gay men and women in football. Sadly, homophobia in the game is still rife, as shown in July last year when the Football Association had to officially ban anti-gay abuse at its football grounds. There have been no openly gay professional footballers since Justin Fashanu, who hung himself in 1998, unable to cope with the strain of the hatred that had been directed at him. In such an aggressively masculine world, the closeted gay football player is in an unenviable position.
Thank heavens then, for the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association. Since 1980 they have been working to provide a safe haven for gay football players and fans the world over, and this year will be bringing their annual tournaments to London. On August 24, the Kentish Town Forum will host the opening ceremony of a tournament which will see players from as far afield as Iceland, Chile, the USA, Argentina and Croatia among many more.
Hosts for the tournament are Leftfooters FC and matches will be held at their playing grounds in Regent’s Park, ‘home of the kickabout’. The tournament will then close with a ceremony at Brixton’s Fridge nightclub on August 30 following the grand finals at the Matchroom Stadium, home of Leyton Orient FC.
The tournament will be the largest gay football event in the UK since Stonewall FC hosted the IGLFA World Championship in 2001, and comes about after a year of planning. The tournament is also significant in that it comes with the full backing of the FA, a further signal of the association’s commitment to stamping out homophobia in football. Simon Johnson, the Director of Corporate Affairs for The FA, explains, “The FA is absolutely committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and harassment and to promote equality...The FA is leading the campaign to tackle homophobic abuse in football in England as part of the Football For All Campaign.”
London 2008 will also highlight the efforts of the IGLFA’s ‘Outreach’ programme, which allows gay men and women from countries where they are not permitted to express their sexuality to attend the tournament. The programme helps to provide transport and accommodation for up to 100 players and to provide a safe haven for those players from discriminating countries. Ultimately, however, this is a chance to watch some great football being played, so make sure you are there for the final whistle.
Further information:
London 2008 IGLFA World Championships
www.londonwc2008.co.uk
