Jakub Jankto said he was homosexual.
Jakub Jankto represents the Spanish Getafe, but is currently playing on loan in his home country’s Sparta Prague team. PDO
Czech national football team player Jakub Jankto said he is homosexual in a Twitter video he published on Monday.
Jankto, 27, said he doesn’t want to hide anymore.
– Like everyone else, I have my strengths, my weaknesses, my family and friends, Jankto said.
– I have a job that I have been doing for years to the best of my ability. Seriously, professionally and with passion. Like all people, I want to live my life freely and without fear, prejudice and violence – with love.
The publication received widespread attention, and the International Football Association Fifa also reacted to the news on Twitter.
– We are all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone, the Fifa Twitter account wrote.
However, in the opinion of many commentators, Fifa’s publication conveys double standards.
Fifa organized the World Cup in November-December in Qatar, where homosexuality is a crime. Fifa also banned the wearing of rainbow ribbons during the Games.
Among other things, a football journalist Andrew Beasley pointed outthat the football umbrella organization’s own actions speak a different language than the tweet.
Sports publication The Athletic David Amoyal was on the same lines.
– Either you support his rights and organize the World Cup in a country where he can be himself or stop pretending that you care about more than just money, Amoyal wrote on Twitter.
Chairman of the Swedish RFSL organization Trifa Shakely said Fifa’s tweet was positive in itself, but agreed with Amoyal.
– It sounds fake, especially when it works the way they do before Christmas. They were ready to sacrifice the rights of LGBTQI people by fueling homophobia at the World Cup, Shakely told the Swedish For Expressen.
Fifa makes money
The World Cup organized in Qatar brought a lot of money to Fifa’s coffers.
Among other things, the Swiss Blick’s according to Fifa, between 2019 and 2022, a total profit of 7.5 billion dollars was made. The amount is more than one billion more than in the previous corresponding period.
Fifa received only 5.7 billion from the World Cup year, most of which came from TV rights. Fifa president Gianni Infantino called the numbers extremely good.
– It shows how strong Fifa is today.
Fifa plans to spend almost 90 percent of its profits over the last four years on soccer, or about $5.2 billion.
For the next four years, Fifa expects to receive a total of 11 billion.
“Everyone is free”
Jankto’s release has brought a lot of admiration and praise.
According to Shakely, Jankto’s video is a big deal.
– His courage can be very significant for many people in sports. It is a very important step that opens doors. Role models are very important.
Paris Saint-Germain’s brass star Neymar also commented on Jankto’s courage after the Champions League match on Tuesday.
– I think everyone is free. All forms of discrimination, such as homophobia and racism, must be suppressed in all fields. We need to understand what each individual wants in order to be free. Everyone is free to do what they want.
– Everyone has the right to be what they want, and no one can prevent it, he continued.
Jankto’s ex-wife Marketá Ottomanská was proud that Jankto dared to speak about it.
– The most important thing is that he is safe and happy. He was afraid that people would not accept him for who he is. He stressed it. He is still being sent private messages and threatened, Ottomanská wrote on her Instagram account.