Czech Footballer Jakub Jankto Comes Out As Gay
On Monday, February 13, professional Czech football playerer Jakub Jankto came out as gay via Instagram post. The 27-year-old mid-fielder, who plays for the Czech Republic national team and Sparta Prague, says he wants to live without fear and with love, reports Yahoo Sports.
“WITHOUT FEAR, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WITHOUT VIOLENCE…”
Jankto has been playing professional football since 2012 and is the first high-profile player in the Czech Republic to come out as gay. In his Instagram post, he mentions how he wants to live authentically and find love without fear, prejudice or violence.
“Like everybody else, I have my strengths. I have my weaknesses. I have a family. I have my friends. I have a job which I have been doing it as best as I can, for years, with seriousness, professionalism and passion,” he says. “I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”
Jankto’s announcement has been met with an outpouring of support from fans and fellow football players around the world. Many have praised his bravery in coming out and have expressed their hope that this will encourage more players to do the same.
Australian out footballer, Josh Cavallo commented on Jankto’s post saying, “Well done on coming out. Very Proud of you my friend. Nothing in life is to be feared. Welcome to the family.”
Neymar, one of the most respected football players in the world, expressed support for Jankto in a press conference where he said, “It’s an important day. Everyone is free, there should be less prejudice, whether that’s homophobia, racism, or any kind of discrimination. I wasn’t aware [of the announcement]. Every human being should be free to do as they want,” reports Outsports.
The team at Sparta Prague released their statement on Twitter, which showed unconditional support for Jankto’s coming out. They say, “Jakub Jankto spoke openly about his sexual orientation with the club’s management, coach and teammates some time ago. Everything else concerns his personal life. No further comments. No more questions. You have our support. Live your life, Jacob. Nothing else matters.”
Jankto’s announcement comes at a time when there is a growing movement for greater LGBTQIA+ inclusion in football. In 2019, the English Premier League launched the No Room For Racism campaign, which aims to tackle discrimination in all its forms, and many clubs have since established LGBTQIA+ fan groups and support networks.
Jankto’s announcement is a significant step for the football community, and may help to pave the way for greater inclusion and acceptance in the sport.
