Ex-professional reports about gay couples in the Bundesliga

Ex-professional reports in Buch

“There are gay couples in the Bundesliga”

Homosexuality is still a taboo topic in men’s football. An ex-professional reveals: a real business with the hiding game is done.

On August 18, the book “Mensch Fußballstar” by Andreas Böni (Meyer & Meyer Verlag, 18 euros, 264 pages) will be released. Football sizes such as Babak Rafati, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Marcel Reif, Gianni Infantino and Lothar Matthäus openly talk about topics such as death, depression and suicide. The “Bild” published extracts from the book in advance.

Marcus Urban, the first German professional footballer who confessed to his homosexuality, says: “Yes, I was the first gay footballer in Germany to get out at the time. It was thought of Thomas Hitzlsperger’s outing that it could be a turning point. But it wasn’t really.” Even after the career, hardly anyone. “There is no longer any reason to hide.”

The 54-year-old emphasizes that being lesbian in women’s football is “usually hardly a problem”, but in men’s football. The goal is that “everyone can say there too: this is my partner. This is our child.” Many gay players have now organized themselves in groups, others are lone fighters.

Urban says about the failed group coming-out on May 17, 2024: “In the end, nobody dared. There are still too many people in their environment who advise against them-media lawyers, consultants: inside, family.” These often acted out of self -interest and braked the players’ wish for freedom.

Urban also criticizes the situation in some cabins: “There are groups that do not accept this because they are manipulated by supposedly religious activists. As soon as they are communicated, this has nothing to do with faith.”

He also describes that there are business branches within the scene: false friends, arranged marriages, organized meetings. “Consultants also do this in part and then have the players in their hands.” And further: “There are also gay couples in the Bundesliga, and very nice, very pretty. And maybe at some point the day will come when they come out.”

For Urban it is clear: “In the past, it was always said that the media and fans are to blame that nobody is out. Today it is the fears of the players and the people around them.”