Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud gave a wide-ranging and all-encompassing interview to French outlet Le Figaro, which had several important takeaways. Maybe the most poignant, and certainly the most socially relevant, aspect of the interview was his take on the current state of homosexuals in football.
The France international said the belief that football/soccer is a long way off from acceptance of openly gay players is an “understatement.” The former Arsenal man even went so far as top say that it’s “impossible to be openly homosexual in football,” and that he’s felt this way since 2014.
In recent years, we have seen some progress on this front, but of course, there is still miles to go yet.
During Pride Month of this year, Minnesota United’s Collin Martin became the second openly gay Major League Soccer player. Former USMNT member Robbie Rogers came out in 2013, and that decision that led him to retire from Leeds United. Rogers returned to MLS and played for the L. A.Galaxy later that year and thus became the league’s first openly gay player.
However, as Giroud pointed out, there’s a ton of work to be done. He recalled his thoughts and feelings when former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger came out in 2014.
“To say that there is still a lot of work to be done in the football world on this topic is an understatement. It’s the least one could say,” Giroud said.
“When I saw Thomas Hitzlsperger come out back in 2014 (after he retired), it was very emotional,” he said.
“It was at this time that I thought that it is impossible to be openly homosexual in football.”
“In the dressing room, there is a lot of testosterone, teasing and collective showers. It is delicate but that is how it is. I can understand the pain and the difficulty for guys in coming out — it is a real challenge and it takes years of work on yourself.”
We have seen some milestones in other sports leagues. Jason Collins became the first openly gay basketball player ever when played for the Brooklyn Nets in February of 2014. Later that spring, Michael Sam became the first openly gay NFL draftee. He was signed by two different teams, but never saw any game action.
Some progress yes, but again, miles and miles to go yet. Giroud has tried to help the cause of gay rights, and he referenced some of his past gestures of support in the interview.
“When I joined Montpellier, I got involved in the fight for tolerance and was on the cover of [French gay magazine] Tetu,” the 32-year-old said.
“At Arsenal, when asked, I wore rainbow laces in support of the gay community.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.