Leagues Behind : Football's Failure to Tackle Anti-Gay Abuse

S. Dick

Research, including a YouGov survey of 2,005 football fans and interviews with football insiders, showing clearly that anti-gay abuse is all too common on both terraces and pitches and that this abuse almost always goes unchallenged. Fans believe that it is this abuse, from fans, players and teammates that deters gay people from playing football and creates a culture of fear where gay players feel it is unsafe to come out. The research also demonstrates that many others - including women supporters and those with families - are deterred from attending games by the presence of anti-gay abuse.