Diversity - VfB boss: Coming-outs by active professional footballers will come
CEO Alexander Wehrle of Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart believes that there will be the first coming-outs of active homosexual players in German professional soccer in the foreseeable future. The efforts of associations, clubs and fan groups in terms of diversity are "clearly recognizable", the 48-year-old told the German Press Agency. "I think a lot has been prepared in this country in recent years for active professional footballers to come out. I am sure that this will happen in the coming years - perhaps not by a single person, but by a group."
Former youth international Marcus Urban recently declared his intention to organize such a group coming-out together with colleagues. "That's a very individual decision, which I would encourage, but which I would never demand of anyone affected," said Wehrle, who is openly gay himself. "That's a decision you have to make for yourself."
Should a player approach him, "I would speak positively to him, inform the team and then also sensitize media representatives accordingly that they are welcome to report on it for a day, but should not exploit it forever," explained Wehrle.
January 8 marks the tenth anniversary of the coming out of former national team player and ex-VfB CEO Thomas Hitzlsperger. It caused a huge public stir in 2014.
German Football Association (DFB)
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- Alexander Wehrle, the CEO of VfB Stuttgart, praised the efforts of various soccer associations, clubs, and fan groups in promoting diversity within German football, stating that they are evidently making strides in this area.
- When asked about the possibility of active homosexual players coming out in the German professional soccer scene, Wehrle expressed confidence, believing that such incidents will occur in the near future, potentially led by a group of individuals rather than just one player.
- Hailing from Baden-Württemberg, Wehrle, who is openly gay, emphasized that any decision to come out should be made individually and not be forced upon anyone, giving his support if a player were to approach him about the matter.
- As the German Press Agency reported, Alexander Wehrle's statements on the topic of homosexuality in professional soccer come just a few days before the tenth anniversary of Thomas Hitzlsperger's coming-out, which caused a significant public reaction in 2014.
Source: www.stern.de
