Homophobia

Against homophobia in sport One of Panteres Grogues' goals is the battle against homophobia in the world of sports. With this objective we intend to maintain a section on our website that will gather all cases of homophobia in sport. Not only those only those that Panteres Grogues finds, but also your personal experiences. If you know of any (alleged) case of homophobia in sport, we kindly ask you to send an email to   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it In early February 2006, UEFA, together with FC Barcelona the FARE association (Association Against Racism in Europe) and the Spanish Football Federation, held a conference on racism in football. A set of workshops was to focus on homophobia in football, as another form of discrimination in the sport. In this workshop Jose Vazquez Garcia and Johan van de Ven, members of the Executive Board of the Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation of Europe (EGLSF), were invited.  Tanja Walter presented a document endorsed by EGLSF, called Kit it out! Homophobia in Football which we invite you to read. In early 2006 Panteres Grogues distributed posters and leaflets about PG's first campaign  on "homophobia in sports" to many sports clubs of Barcelona and some of the suburbs . This campaign had the support of the Women and Civil Rights of the Barcelona City Council (Regidoria de Dona i Drets Civils). They were also distributed among the sports clubs that had the collaboration of the Barcelona Institute of Sport (l'Institut Barcelona Esport), also of the Barcelona City Council. If you read homophobic or sexist press statements, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Homophobic and/or sexist statements in the world of sport:

Carlos Alberto Parreira, coach of the Brazil Football selection (May 2006) I would not remove him from the Cup (a gay player), but I don't think that a (gay) player should be contracted by the Brazilian selection.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo, coach of the Saints Football and former Real Madrid trainer (April 2006) (referring to the Brazilian referee Rodrigo Martins Cintra) Every time I pointed out a fault, he looked at me. He was watching me throughout the match. I am not a sissy. I'm not sure if he likes me, but he disappoints me. He's a good referee, but I don't feel like shaking hands with him.

Juan de Dios Jurado, 5th in 800m at World Cup in Moscow (March 2006) I've been a little ladybug, the third race has affected more mental than physical.

Samuel Etoo, who played for FC Barcelona (March 2006) In order to have your opponent lose concentration, or because he's too good a player you just call him "gay" or "fat". This name calling is not meant to harm, you can't compare them. They aren't good either, because children see this on television and repeat them.

Eduardo Berizzo, former football player of Celta Vigo and other teams: I'd rather play against a junkie than a homosexual.

Jorge Fossatti, Uruguayan National Soccer Team Coach until November 2005: There are certain rules that must be respected and a gay player would be a transgressor among men.

Rudi Aussauer, trainer, Schalke 04 (2004): I have never seen a gay player in the league [...] but I am sure there must be some, though I cannot imagine it.

De Wolf, Feyenoord player: I will never shower with gays.

Arne Friedrich, German player (2004): There are increasingly more and more gays. Are you sure there are gay players in football?

Gerd Müller, a former German player with record number of goals (1975): Women in the kitchen! And not the on field!

Peter Jansson, Swedish football player and handball (2003): I'm one of these closet cases that no one wants to know about. I do not exist and am not allowed to enjoy football with the same conditions as the rest.

Frank Rost, German Porter (2002): ... just in case, I shower with my ass against the wall.

Otto Baric, national coach of Croatia (2004): Do would not allow any of my players to be gay nor would I allow myself to be it in my workplace. I could not trust a homosexual because they are weak and sick.

Paul Breitner, former German player (1981): I see women shooting the ball as something completely anti-aesthetic. Women's soccer is disgusting.

Tanju Çolak, Turkish record scorer (2005): In all these years, I have never met a gay single player. And if I saw one, I would immediately recognize him.

Rudi Gutendorf, German coach (1982): A woman can be so pretty in bed ... but on a football field it seems so terrible!

Corny Littman, President, FC St.. Pauli (2004): I would not encourage any professional player to get out of the closet. The social pressure would be unbearable.

John Blankenstein, observer referee UEFA (2004): Either way, everyone is always against referees, nobody cares if the referee is gay or not. A referee has no fans.

Uli Hoeneß, the coach of Bayern Munich (2004): It's too bad, however, if he insists it'll be a double bed.