The Euros have been a hot mess but I thought I'd share the statements made by the four semifinalist captains in relation to UEFA's "Respect Diversity" campagain (hint: they do it better)
Here is Gianluigi Buffon, captain of Italy:
"I am proud to lead my country in this important match of UEFA EURO 2012," said Buffon. "My team-mates and I stand against any kind of discrimination. We are one team regardless of our religious or ethnic background. That is why we support UEFA's Respect Diversity message and we call on everyone in football to join us."
Here is Philipp Lahm, captain of Germany:
"The past three weeks have shown how football can bring together people who share the same passion. Nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation have nothing to do with it. My team-mates and I, as captain of the German national team, ask you to join us in rejecting all types of discrimination and in supporting UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
Here is Iker Casillas, captain of Spain
"We owe our success to our team spirit and the diversity of our backgrounds," said Casillas. "We may be from different regions and different backgrounds but on the pitch we stand together - united as a team. That is why we are against all forms of discrimination and are proud to support UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
Here is Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal
"Our country brings together people from all kinds of different backgrounds all united thanks to UEFA EURO 2012," Ronaldo told the stadium. "Football can bring people together like no other sport no matter their religious, social or ethnic background. That is why we all stand together as one, both on and off the pitch and support UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
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Here is Gianluigi Buffon, captain of Italy:
"I am proud to lead my country in this important match of UEFA EURO 2012," said Buffon. "My team-mates and I stand against any kind of discrimination. We are one team regardless of our religious or ethnic background. That is why we support UEFA's Respect Diversity message and we call on everyone in football to join us."
Here is Philipp Lahm, captain of Germany:
"The past three weeks have shown how football can bring together people who share the same passion. Nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation have nothing to do with it. My team-mates and I, as captain of the German national team, ask you to join us in rejecting all types of discrimination and in supporting UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
Here is Iker Casillas, captain of Spain
"We owe our success to our team spirit and the diversity of our backgrounds," said Casillas. "We may be from different regions and different backgrounds but on the pitch we stand together - united as a team. That is why we are against all forms of discrimination and are proud to support UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
Here is Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal
"Our country brings together people from all kinds of different backgrounds all united thanks to UEFA EURO 2012," Ronaldo told the stadium. "Football can bring people together like no other sport no matter their religious, social or ethnic background. That is why we all stand together as one, both on and off the pitch and support UEFA's Respect Diversity message."
source 1 source 2
I'm glad they're speaking up - i hope it makes a difference.
Can you even imagine what England's would have been if they'd reached the semi?
"We're totally against racism, except when it's one of our best players, in which case we'll all defend him and let him stay on the team and even as captain. And homophobia is rubbish, except for the fans that constantly shout homophobic abuse at players and linesman and ew, what do you mean there are probably some footballers who are secretly gay?"
On the other hand, Oxlade, Walcott and Wellbeck did their jerseys and country proud, half of England's starting XI were players of colour, and you'd never hear of an English coach saying stuff along the lines of Laurent Blanc, that there should be a quota on players of colour wearing the jersey, and being supported by the press and the politicians because their national side was too black/arab.
Edited at 2012-06-30 08:14 am (UTC)
Although I'm only a half-hearted football fan, I jut haven't been able to bring myself to even pretend to cheer for England this time around because of the Terry inclusion/leaving Ferdinand out. Germany's probably my spiritual home so I've been supporting them.
But I'm heartened by the little things. The fact that Cassanno apologised for his remarks re: homosexuality in football, and that the Italian team have expressed their support for Mario Balotelli in terms of his actions if he got banana'd and monkey booed.
I'm also liking one or two members of the Spanish team having the discussion at their tables in terms of plotting out what they'd do if the fans attending were racist towards other players of colour on the pitch.
Lahm, man - can't say enough. I can even imagine Platini choking on his own tongue "DID HE JUST IMPLY THAT THERE ARE NON-STRAIGHT PEOPLE AT THIS TOURNAMENT?!"
Considering that John Fashnu - the only gay footballer on record came out in the 1990s and was driven to commit suicide because his prospects dried up, I'm glad to see that the culture on the field by the younger players (those twenty five and under don't seem to really care) has changed a lot.
Man, I don't know. On one hand, I'm kinda fuming that they give football tourneys to really shady countries to host, but on the other hand, some people just wouldn't get exposed to alternative viewpoints and life existence any other way.
The Swedish footballer in question - Anton Hysén - looks a very average player, actually. So I doubt he'll ever play for an important team.
But what makes the Fashanu case interesting is that his niece points out that there is not a single "out" footballer in any league in England. Of 10,000 football professionals in England in every league not one.
Sepp Blatter is a failing piece of sexist, homophobic, shit. He'd probably be a few more kinds of bigoted if he had room in his head for all of them, too. I'm not even that big a soccer fan, and I wish stabbity death upon him.
But there are real issues within the game still, issues that come with a vast influx of money. And the fact that it is still taboo for a player to come out presumably for fear of what the fans and / or his team mates will say is a massive issue.
I then said: I bet Lahm wrote this thing, or re-wrote it, and that he added sexual-orientation.
I'm proud the German team did this.
The powers that be are so bleeding awkward. I wish Blatter would GTFO, as well as Plantini.
Edited at 2012-06-30 05:38 pm (UTC)
There's also:
Just off the top of my head...
I'm sure there are more I could think of - search by interests.
The German team are awesome. Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Joachim Loew (the coach) Mario Gomez etc... have all come out to speak against LGBT discrimination. Lahm gave an interview in a gay magazine - which even the editor considered odd of him - though he was amazed they would. "Plenty of people read these magazine, why shouldn't I give an interview..."
It was marvellous because the interviewer confessed to having a crush on him. And of course - Lahm is irresistible.
But Lahm - I have decided Lahm never lies about anything. That is why he causes ~dramatic happenings~ and all. And between being Bayern's captain and the captain of Germany, his words carry hella weight.