“I am gay and I no longer want to hide,” writes Jakub Jankto on Instagram, where he also posted a video of himself.
The post has received a lot of love and encouraging comments have poured in from official accounts of clubs such as Getafe, Osasuna and Juventus. The Swedish national team goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, as well as Antonio Hysén – Sweden’s first openly gay male player – also send their support.
“Thank you for being you and for inspiring so many people,” writes Lindahl.
“We stand behind you,” writes Hysén.
“Wants to live in freedom”
The midfielder has previously represented Italian clubs such as Udinese, Ascoli and Sampdoria and played until last year at La Liga club Getafe, before returning to the Czech League and Sparta Prague.
He has also represented the Czech Republic A national team on 45 occasions. Among other things, he played against Sweden in the WC playoff last year.
“I also want to live my life in freedom. Without fears. Without preconceived notions. Without violence. But with love,” writes Jankto.
Two years ago, Australian Josh Cavallo became the first openly gay active men’s player to come out. Last year, Blackpool’s Jake Daniels, then 17, also revealed that he is gay. He thus became the first UK men’s player to come out during his active career since Justin Fashanu in the early 1990s.
