Joe Taylor writes for the University of Southampton’s Wessex Scene on homophobia in sport:

In a world of high stakes and gains, undue criticism for sports stars is inevitably a part of their life and inevitably a line is crossed at times. The passion involved in football can evoke fantastic emotions for the fans, but far too often the personal lives of some players is affected in a negative way.

Since Justin Fashanu ‘came out’ as gay 21 years ago, no professional footballer has followed in his footsteps. The documentary made by his niece Amal Fashanu for the BBC showed a multitude of difficulties in football and tackling discrimination. An undeniable talent in his youth, Fashanu’s suicide in 1998 showed how demonised an individual could become based on a lifestyle choice and his death did little to change attitudes in football.

Full article here.