A social message like another tear in the veil of taboo, with a high impact on the world of football, sport and society: Jakub Janktowith a video posted on your Instagram account, stated that he was homosexual. The midfielder, now owned by Getafe but on loan to Sparta Pragueplayed for a long time in Italy, wearing the shirts of Udinese, Ascoli e Sampdoria: it is the first time that a footballer of such a high sporting level decides to come out with a great act of courage.
Jankto, his sexual orientation and gay footballers
These are the words of the midfielder born in 1996 on his Instagram account: “Hi, I’m Jakub Jankto. Like everyone 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 in the best possible way for years with seriousness, professionalism and passion. Like everyone, I also want to live my life in freedom. Without fears. Without prejudice. Without violence. But with love. I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide“. Talking about one’s sexuality is normality. But talking about it in a world like that of football, where even today we don’t feel totally free to do so, with the subject still remaining a taboo, makes Jakub Jankto’s gesture an act of rebellion.
Jankto only the last: from Fernandez to Testo, from Rogers to Cavallo
Jankto is only the latest footballer to have decided to come out. The soccer player Andy Brennan he preceded it with a letter published on the Australian Federation website, as he is Australian Joshua Cavallo. Instead, he chose social networks for the Argentine Nicolas Fernandez of General Belgrano and an American radio interview David Text. Robbie Rogersa former Leeds and Los Angeles Galaxy player, revealed it publicly at the end of his career as did the German Thomas Hitzlsperger, who also passed in Lazio. The list is very long and includes, among others, Justin Fashanu: Manchester City, West Ham and Nottingham Forrest among others, the first to overcome the fear of being judged and the feeling of shame by telling his story. Anton Hisen at 20 he was the first openly gay footballer in Sweden.
