Fighting homophobia in European soccer has been stuck in neutral — one step forward, one step back — for years. The latest step forward is action taken by German soccer club Borussia Dortmund to ban fans who held a homophobic sign at the club’s March 17 match against Werder Bremen. The club handed out the [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Germany’
Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy share French kiss on the soccer field
When he scored a goal against Germany in an international friendly on Wednesday, Frenchman Olivier Giroud grabbed teammate Mathieu Debuchy and thanked him for the assist with a big, wet kiss on the mouth (video below). Giroud was asked about it after the game, telling Le Parisien (and I’m sorry for the rough translation): “No, [...]
German footballer asks gays to come out
Germany’s World Cup soccer goalie Manuel Neuer, who also plays professionally in Germany, says gay athletes should come out of the closet. According to Sport24: “Yes, those who are homosexual should say so. That would take a load off their minds,” said Neuer, who had an outstanding World Cup last year which saw the Germans [...]
Out athlete tells others to stay in the closet
Out lesbian German goalkeeper Ursula Holl continues a sad trend of out athletes trying to convince other athletes to not come out. Out Olympian Blake Skjellerup picked up on it last week and set the record straight (so to speak). First he got Holl’s comments translated…. “I think it is problematic that gay players should [...]
German manager against gays in soccer
German soccer-player agent Rudi Assauer couldn’t be more appropriately named. Last week he said that not only does he think gays shouldn’t be in soccer, but he once told a gay team masseur to find another job. Perhaps [gays] are okay in other sports but not in football. If a player came to me and [...]
German referee called ‘dirty homosexual’
A German soccer referee is taking action against an assistant coach for allegedly yelling a gay slur at him. Arminia Bielefeld assistant coach Frank Eulberg allegedly called Georg Schalk a “dirty homosexual” afer a recent match. Said Schalk’s lawyer in a complaint: Through Mr Eulberg’s behaviour it’s not only the smooth running of a sporting [...]
Soccer team offers refunds for playing badly
A German soccer team has found a great way to keep their fans from bailing on the team: They’re offering refunds. Anyone who traveled to watch Energie Cottbus lose, 4-0, to Bundesliga rival Schalke on Friday will have their admission refunded by the team. You hear people in sports say they “take responsibility” all the [...]
Weekend Hot Jock: Benjamin Starke
Last week we brought you a German gymnast; this week it’s a German swimmer. Benjamin Starke is a 22-year-old who’s competed at the highest level for several years. He swam in the Beijing Olympics in three events – 4X100m freestyle, 4X200m freestyle and 100m butterfly – though he failed to get out of preliminary heats [...]
Weekend Hot Jock: Fabian Hambüchen
Our second gymnast in the series is Fabian Hambüchen (also written Hambuechen) from Germany. He’s one of the rare gymnasts who has broken through with a wide appeal in his country, being named the 2007 German sportsperson of the year. In 2004 he was the youngest German athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in [...]