LONDON, 14 Oct. (dpa/EP) –
Former England soccer player Gary Lineker expects a Premier League player to come out as gay during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a decision that would send a strong message to a host nation where homosexuality remains a crime.
The former England striker told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper that he knows two gay Premier League players and said they had previously been “very close” to coming out.
“It would be great if one or two of them came out of the closet during the World Cup. It would be amazing. I know for a fact that some have been very close and watched it. There are a couple that I know, but obviously it’s not for me to say who they are.” , he claimed.
The World Cup begins on November 20 in Qatar, a nation where same-sex sexual activity is punishable by seven years in prison, or even death by stoning for Muslim men under Sharia law.
This week, the head of the Qatar World Cup Organizing Committee, Nasser Al Khater, assured that LGBTQ+ fans would be welcome at the tournament, but obvious concerns remain and many are worried about their safety.
England captain Harry Kane has vowed to wear a rainbow-coloured ‘One Love’ armband during the tournament, even if it is banned by FIFA. Blackpool’s Jake Daniels and Adelaide United’s Australian Josh Cavallo are the highest-profile players to come out as gay to date.
Lineker believes that “fear” is what drives players not to reveal their sexual orientation. “Fear of the unknown, I imagine. Maybe they’re worried about what their teammates might think, but they probably already know that. It sounds crazy. People say, ‘Yeah, but the fans…’ And I’m like, ‘Well, the fans sing anyway’. You will always find some idiots. But it is easy for me to say it, since I am not in that position, “he said.
Lineker hoped that Cavallo and Daniels would encourage other players to come out as gay, and suggested that the first Premier League player to do so would be more marketable. “There are a lot of players who have to live a lie. I’m sure it’s very difficult. But I think we’ve seen so far that the feedback and response is incredibly positive,” he said.
“If I were the agent of a great footballer, if I knew that one of my players is gay, if I were a great player, I would say: ‘Be the first great player’. As an agent, thinking in terms of publicity, it can be huge.” , he added.
Lineker said he turned down the opportunity to host April’s World Cup draw, saying he did not want to do so given his history of criticizing corruption surrounding the awarding of the tournament. “It’s a different FIFA now. But I felt that doing the draw for FIFA would be supporting the World Cup and backing the decision,” he said.