Former national player Thomas Hitzlsperger still sees major barriers when it comes to the issue of homosexuality in football.
“Globally, I have a problem in too many countries. That’s why I often commented on it in advance of the World Cup in Qatar. It was the first time in my life that I was asked whether I should play football I love it very much, can see it live at a World Cup,” said Hitzlsperger at the presentation of an Amazon documentary in Munich.
Hitzlsperger came out years ago. But “as football is currently changing, I may always be faced with problems – and homosexual football fans too,” emphasized the 41-year-old.
There are “few ex-players who have come out. That’s why it seems to be a problem in society to belong to a minority. My concern remains: How do we deal with minorities so that exclusion occurs less often?” , he said. But football is “not the only problem area in this regard”.
Hitzlsperger part of the documentary “The Last Taboo”
In Germany there are “role models who have fought so that I can live carefree here. But that is not cemented, you have to work for it,” Hitzlsperger continued.
He doesn’t want to “convey the topic so heavily that it means: Now they’re coming back with the rainbow flag, with diversity. I just want that I’m not excluded for something that I didn’t choose and what I stand for “.
Hitzlsperger is part of the documentary “The Last Taboo”. This will be broadcast on Prime Video from 2024.