Gay rugby team Newcastle Ravens tackle homophobia in sport

Jan 8 2009 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

Football slow to lose bias

A CAMPAIGN inspired by Justin Fashanu has been launched to help stamp out homophobia in British football.

Justin was launched last May, two days after the 10th anniversary of the former England international’s suicide.

The Nottingham Forest player was the first openly gay footballer in the sport. A spokesperson for the campaign said: "The FA, in conjunction with Stonewall and the Gay Football Supporters Network, are fighting anti-gay prejudice on the terraces, looking to stamp out the kind of chants that haunted Justin.

"But 10 years after his death, which the football world refused to mark, there are still no openly gay professional players or managers."

Earlier this year, former Juventus managing director Luciano Moggi caused outrage when he said: "There are no gays in football" in an anti-gay tirade.

The aim of the Justin campaign is to get the FA to observe Saturday, May 2, 2009, as Justin Fashanu Day.

They will be asking Premier and Football League players to support Justin Fashanu Day by wearing black armbands and observing a minute’s silence before matches.