“I also want to live my life in freedom,” says Czech international Jakub Jankto to the camera. For the first time ever, a professional soccer player has openly revealed his homosexuality while playing in a top European league.
“Hi, I’m Jakub Jankto,” the visibly moved 27-year-old midfielder begins his explanation. The 45-time Czech national player went down in history with his video message published on social media on Monday: He is the first professional in a top European league to come out as gay while still playing.
Jakub Jankto wants to live “without prejudice, but with love”.
“Like everyone else, I have my strengths. I have my weaknesses. I have a family. I have my friends. I have a job that I have been doing as best I can for years with seriousness, professionalism and passion,” says the professional , who is under contract with Sparta Prague. Jankto wants to live “without fears”, “without prejudices”, “without violence”, “but with love”. “I’m gay and I don’t want to hide anymore,” his message ends.
and wrote a few lines of text from the world-famous Metallica song “Nothing Else Matters”.
Spanish La Liga club Getafe FC, to whom Jankto is currently on loan, also reacted positively. “Our utmost respect and our unconditional support for our footballer Jakub Jankto”, Jankto used to play for years in Italy with Udinese Calcio and Sampdoria Genoa.
Australian Joshua Cavallo came out as the first Premier League professional
Among the Central and Eastern European countries, the Czech Republic is comparatively liberal when it comes to the acceptance of homosexuality. Gays and lesbians can enter into a registered partnership, but they are not allowed to marry. Every year in summer the rainbow parade “Prague Pride” takes place in Prague.
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To date, few footballers have openly acknowledged their homosexuality – even fewer during their playing days. Justin Fashanu was the first professional to come out in 1990. However, he took his own life shortly thereafter, at the age of 36.
In October 2021, Joshua Cavallo in Australia was the first active first division professional to come out (the star reported). The then 21-year-old Adelaide United player had addressed the public in an emotional Twitter video and also encouraged other professionals to stand by their “authentic self”.
Sources: ; “”; with dpa
Source: Stern
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