The 27 -year -old Czech player, who is currently playing in Sparta Prague, revealed his sexual orientation in a video posted on Twitter on Monday.
Mo12345lemonde with AFP
“I am homosexual and I do not want to hide from it any longer.” It is by these words that the Czech international football player Jakub Jankto did his coming out on Monday, February 13, in a video posted on his Twitter account.
In this video where he is expressed in English, the 27 -year -old attacking midfielder reveals his sexual orientation by declaring: “Like everyone, I also want to live my life in complete freedom, without fear , without having to suffer, without violence, (…) with love. “
https://t.co/pznsateoch
The player is currently evolving in Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), as part of a loan by the Spanish club from Getafe. He has forty-five selections in the national team and also worn in club the jerseys of Udinese and the Sampdoria Genoa, in Italy.
a rare speaking in the world of football
His courageous speech, because rare in the sports world and in particular in football, has sparked a wave of support messages, coming from his teams as well as the highest bodies of world football.
His current club has thus made known in a tweet that “Jakub Jankto spoke openly about his sexual orientation with the management, the coach and the teammates of the club some time ago”. Returning the player’s video, Sparta Prague added: “We give you our support. Live your life, Jakub. Nothing else matters.”
“Our greatest respect and flawless support for our Jakub jankto footballer”, For his part reacted Getafe , when FC Barcelona wrote “proud of you, Jakub!”. “We are all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone”, Tweeted The International Federation (FIFA). “Well played, Jakub. You are a source of inspiration, and European football is with you!”, Also reacted on the same social network uefa.
Few high -level players have come out in the world of football. Among them, the Englishman Justin Fashanu in 1990, when he played at the West Ham London club, the International of Australian under 20s Josh Cavallo (Adelaide United) in 2021, as well as Jake Daniels (Blackpool, D2 English ), in May 2022, when he was only 17 years old.
In rugby, Gareth Thomas, former captain of the XV of Wales, had been the first rugby player in history to come out, in December 2009, two years after his retirement as a player. Two weeks ago, it was the New Zealander Campbell Johnstone, former all black pillar in 2005 (three selections), who came out.