Vincent Kompany has backed the Football v Homophobia campaign in its work to help fans and clubs tackle prejudice in the game.
Fifteen out of the 20 Premier League clubs are giving their support to FvH, and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes the action of the campaign will help to challenge prejudice in the game:
“We’re proud to be supporting the Football v Homophobia campaign. We hope that it sends out a message that there is no place for discrimination in football, nor in any sport.”
The campaign believes that homophobia needs to be tackled from all angles, including working with fans, and February’s month of action provided an important impetus for change.
Last month 10 County FAs got involved and numerous grassroots activities took place, alongside work in across the professional game.
England Women’s captain Casey Stoney became the highest profile player to come out during the month, while LGBT fans have set up five new LGBT supporters groups at Spurs, Ipswich, West Ham, Reading and Southampton.
Megan Worthing-Davies, campaign co-director, feels a landmark has been reached.
She said: “The fact we now have 50% of professional clubs taking responsibility to challenge homophobia and to make football more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people shows the tide is turning.
“Football v Homophobia’s positive, long term approach, building partnerships focused on action and education has been instrumental to the changes that are taking place in the game”.
The FA’s general secretary, Alex Horne, said, “We’re delighted to see so many clubs - across the professional and grassroots games - getting involved in Football v Homophobia’s 2014 month of action and taking a stand against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
“The FA believes that everyone, whatever their background, should be able to enjoy participating in football free from fear of discrimination and abuse. Congratulations to FvH for their hard work on the 2014 campaign.”
Minister for Sport and Equalities Helen Grant said: “I am pleased that the majority of teams in the top tier of English football and the FA have backed the Football vs Homophobia campaign. Football is our national sport and we must do all we can to tackle any sort of discrimination in the game. I hope the campaign continues to go from strength to strength.”
The full list of clubs who have taken action or committed to take action from February onwards in the 2013/2014 season can be found here: http://www.footballvhomophobia.com/professional-clubs/
