Swedish football player Anton Hysén has come out as gay, becoming the first active pro European soccer player to do so since Justin Fashanu. He’s also only the second pro soccer player in the world to come out during or after his career. Ever. The 20-year-old summed it up pretty bluntly (and pretty well) in an interview with Swedish soccer magazine Offside:
I am a footballer. And gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys.
When asked about whether coming out could affect his career, he said any harassment would just fuel his fire:
People may call me anything they want, it will just make me even more psyched.
Also:
A club might be interested in me but then the trainer finds out I’m gay and then they change their minds. But that’s their problem, not mine.
This is the kind of kid we need so many more of in sports. He’s just starting his career and wants first and foremost to be accepted for who he is. It’s pretty fitting that he would come out so close to what would have been Fashanu’s 50th birthday.
Anton is the son of former pro footballer Glenn Hysén, who played in Sweden and England from 1978-1994.
This kid has the courage to come out, yet multimillionaires in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB don’t. Pretty amazing.
Hat tip to Ken Scott.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 3:06 PM
He needs to be supported in every way possible, for the benefit of us all!
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Awesome news!
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Here is what Anton’s dad, himself a former English Premier player, had to say:
“I think it is great that you decided to come out now, that you are ready to talk about it. Its huge. Very well done, son.”
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:04 PM
What a great young man and a great father. Another step forward for glbt folks everywhere but especially athletes.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:15 PM
Do you have a direct link to the interview? Can’t find it on that general link to ‘Offside’. Thanks.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Love the quotes – such a stark contrast from Steven Davies “the time was right and I want to help people” measured approach. Not criticizing but just saying that it’s refreshing and encouraging to see a complete lack of inner struggle with being out.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Someone did a translation:
http://www.kephsenett.com/2011/03/09/finally-a-fotbollsspelaren/
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Nice story. It would be better if you had spelled Justin Fashanu’s name properly, though. As your other stories on him have the spelling correct I’ll take it as a typo but, all the same, surely if you consider Fashanu to be important you can spell his name without having to check it.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 6:34 PM
Misspelling fixed. Thanks!
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Anton and I have been friends for a while now. He is an awesome guy, and it is so cool that he has come out. Great guy with an awesome attitude.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 8:36 PM
How awesome would it be if this were the beginning of a trend…
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Congratulations to him. Hopefully Outsports will keep us up to take on reactions to his coming out in his soccor league. Its great that he seems so confident about himself and living his life as an openly gay man at such a young age. Definitely a sign of hope in the next generation.
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Good on him! Excellent job at reporting this, guys!
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 2:19 AM
Whoopie he’s gay, big deal
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 3:45 AM
Euro 3 USA 0
Thomas, Davies and Hysen how many years will we have to wait for an american?
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 3:46 AM
JoesMon, spelling Fashanu’s name wrong was just an honest mistake. But as someone who sees his name as Syd, Cid, Sid and Ziegler, I’ve learned the spelling of someone’s name isn’t nearly as important as who the person is or their story.
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 3:49 AM
@DJ “Whoopie he’s gay, big deal.”
If you are the second out of thousands and thousands to ever do something, it is by definition a big deal.
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 4:03 AM
Thomas,Davies and Hysen all have links to Uk Hysen’s dad played for Liverpool and i think Anton was born there,
the question is, is this country doing something right for once ???
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 4:19 AM
Thanks for bringing us this story , it is great to see a young player who is confident enough to lead the way … and I love his attitude , no compromise , no apology for who he is , just “this is who I am , take it or leave it “
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 6:21 AM
Who cares if there was a typo for Fashunu? Jesus! Pedants lol!
Good for him and it helps that his family has a helluva lot of respect in football and his Dad is his coach on the team because the football terrace is MURDER.
You can’t even go watch a football match as a black person because of the sh*t you get.
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 9:27 AM
I don’t want to have to root for Sweden in 2014, but…BOOYAAAH for Anton!
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Ah, the cliche anti-American comments are classic. In the meantime, gays still are not allowed to adopt children anywhere in scandinavia. Even Arkansas permits gays to adopt. Geeze!
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 11:10 AM
@Mario, it’s pro-equal rights, not anti-Americanism, that inspires me.
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Hats off to this guy!! Hopefully his courage will inspire others to follow in his footsteps!!! WAY TO GO ANTON!!!!
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Mario, you can’t just make up facts to support an argument. Gays (both single and partnered) can adopt in all Scandinavian countries except Finland, which prohibits gay couples from adopting (they do allow same sex partners to adopt their partners’ children, however).
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 7:05 PM
Jim, I was being sarcastic. -_- You know how homophobes say “big deal”? You know how much does this means to me, I’ve been speechless since yesterday morning. I’m just going to sit back and take it all in (no jokes please) and wait for the sex tape. ^_^
on Mar 10th, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Hey DJ, my sarcasm meter was shut off.
It is awesome what he has done and we will keep following it, sex tape or not!
on Mar 12th, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Homosexuals have equal rights in Sweden, unlike the USA (a couple of states do not count) the probably self-titled leader of the “free” world!
on Mar 12th, 2011 at 11:34 PM
I admire him for making the announcement and support and back himn all the way. We are all equal and should be recognized for our abilities, not who we are
on Mar 13th, 2011 at 7:57 PM
it’s always hard to come out, i know that feeling coming out has a gay japanese magician !
on Mar 21st, 2011 at 7:18 AM
Bravo Anton! You’ve done sport a great service at some personal cost. Don’t let the mad ravings of the few hate-mongers touch you. You have the support of good people everywhere. I’m a gay football fan from Anfield !
Great good fortune in your career.
X
on Aug 9th, 2011 at 7:31 PM
well done you!!!!! Just hope the rest of the gay sportsmen in the closet now come out and support you Anton, you deserve it babe mwah xx xx