Iker Casillas: Unveiling for the secret coming-out causes excitement!

Iker Casillas: Unveiling for the secret coming-out causes excitement!

A big vertebrae around Iker Casillas unfolds after the former football star on Instagram has made a mysterious announcement. The 44-year-old spoke about personal experiences, which he revealed only a few people in his 30 years as a professional footballer. Casillas believes that now is the right time to share its history. However, he emphasizes that this decision affects him all by himself. His Instagram story, which was automatically deleted after a few minutes, leaves questions, because the exact content remains unclear. There was already a similar incident three years ago when he said on Twitter to be gay. This time too, the tweet was the result of a hacker attack, and was only withdrawn hours after its publication, such as SPIEGEL reported.

The Situation Umcasillas not only raises questions about his personal trip, but also illuminates the broader discussion about LGBT+ visibility in football. But in a sport that is often shaped by prejudices and a toxic power game, the question of how open athletes can speak about their sexual orientation remains a sensitive topic. The “Sports Free” campaign tries to create visibility for LGBTQ+ in sports and is planning a group coming-out on international day against homophobia. However, it remains unclear whether professional footballers will take part in this campaign. It is known that only an ex-professional, Thomas Hitzlsperger, publicly became aware of his homosexuality in 2014.

brave steps in the scene

In this context, the story of Dirk Elbrächter, head of content management at the Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, is relevant. He came out at the age of 51 and wants to be a role model for others with his history. Elbrächter reports of his experiences in a sports environment, where homosexuality is often seen negatively. His coming-out is accompanied by openness and support within his club, as he himself notes. This clarifies that changes in football are possible when people speak openly about their identity.

The initiative of Marcus Urban, an ex-footballer and LGBT activist, aims to create a digital platform to share personal stories from footballers. The project is supported by several professional clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin and FC St. Pauli. However, the fear of negative consequences remains an obstacle for many to come out; This applies in particular to male players. Christian Rudolph, head of the competence and contact point for sexual and gender diversity at DFB, also criticizes the focus of the campaign on men's football. He points out that several players are now open in the German national team of women, while in the men's area nobody was brave enough to show their true self.