Blatter: 'Gay Footballers' Must Come Out
Fifa president Sepp Blatter, known to not hold back on controversial issues, has spoken out on the issue of dangerous tackles. However, of more interest are his comments on male footballers hiding their sexual orientation.
The debate on the nature of bans for career threatening tackles has picked up following Eduardo's horrific injury, and Blatter believes that the issue needs immediate addressing.
The FIFA supremo, speaking ahead of a meeting of the governing body's international board this weekend, inisists that lifetime ban cannot be ruled out.
"Dangerous tackling is one of the most important issues in football at the moment," he is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
"Players who do this kind of thing intentionally should be banned from the game."
Going one step further, he even indicated that criminal proceedings could be launched in the future.
"Attacking somebody is criminal," he said. "Whether it happens on a football pitch or elsewhere. It is a crime and should be treated as such.
"Before, the problem was tackling from the front and from the side. This is a matter we will discuss this weekend. We will not only make recommendations to the referees we will instruct them to be stronger against this violence."
The comment is certain to create another debate, as sporting organizations have usually strived to keep match incidents away from criminal courts.
Come Out Gu(a)ys
However, his subsequent remark could well make bigger headlines, as he insists 'gay footballers' need to come out, so to speak, and not hide their sexual orientation.
He insists that male professionals should learn from their female counterparts, and not fear alieanation in the locker room.
"There are gay footballers but they don't declare it because they think it will not be accepted in these macho organisations," he said. "Look at women's football: homosexuality is more popular there."
Neal Glew, Goal.com
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=612594
I think zlatan will be happy now.
what you think
please discuss
Fifa president Sepp Blatter, known to not hold back on controversial issues, has spoken out on the issue of dangerous tackles. However, of more interest are his comments on male footballers hiding their sexual orientation.
The debate on the nature of bans for career threatening tackles has picked up following Eduardo's horrific injury, and Blatter believes that the issue needs immediate addressing.
The FIFA supremo, speaking ahead of a meeting of the governing body's international board this weekend, inisists that lifetime ban cannot be ruled out.
"Dangerous tackling is one of the most important issues in football at the moment," he is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
"Players who do this kind of thing intentionally should be banned from the game."
Going one step further, he even indicated that criminal proceedings could be launched in the future.
"Attacking somebody is criminal," he said. "Whether it happens on a football pitch or elsewhere. It is a crime and should be treated as such.
"Before, the problem was tackling from the front and from the side. This is a matter we will discuss this weekend. We will not only make recommendations to the referees we will instruct them to be stronger against this violence."
The comment is certain to create another debate, as sporting organizations have usually strived to keep match incidents away from criminal courts.
Come Out Gu(a)ys
However, his subsequent remark could well make bigger headlines, as he insists 'gay footballers' need to come out, so to speak, and not hide their sexual orientation.
He insists that male professionals should learn from their female counterparts, and not fear alieanation in the locker room.
"There are gay footballers but they don't declare it because they think it will not be accepted in these macho organisations," he said. "Look at women's football: homosexuality is more popular there."
Neal Glew, Goal.com
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=612594
I think zlatan will be happy now.
what you think
please discuss
