In 2014, something unprecedented happened in football. A few months after ending his long career, after having played for Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, Lazio, Stuttgart, Everton, West Ham and Wolfsburg, as well as having played 52 games for the Mannschaft, Thomas Hitzlsperger (Munich, 42 years old) became the first elite footballer to come out of the closet. Today, he acts as a cultural and footballing bridge between Spain and Germany for Morning Express in this series of interviews that aims to talk about football and not only.
Ask.What do you understand by a taboo?
Answer.Something that exists, but that people want to talk about, either out of fear or because it generates some kind of discomfort.
P.Did you live in that taboo for a long time?
R. I would say it was a short period, but it was difficult. It wasn’t accepted to be gay. At least, it wasn’t when I was growing up. And I thought I might have problems. So I needed time to think.
P.What did I need to think about?
R. Whether I kept quiet or lived the life I really wanted to live. It took me a few years until I understood that there was nothing to hide.
P. Was the silence for what she could experience in a men’s locker room or for society?
R. The locker room was complicated. At times, very difficult.
P.Why was it difficult?
R. Some players had expressed that they did not want to be with a gay person in the locker room, either because of religious beliefs, lack of education or knowledge, or because they did not want to expose you to a different life. When you are in a locker room every day and they let you know that they would feel uncomfortable with a gay teammate, then it is difficult. Even more so when you are the only one. You can cause problems.
P.Was he the only one?
R. I didn’t know if there was anyone else because I didn’t have the courage to talk to anyone. So, you feel alone.
P.The worst kind of loneliness? Isn’t it the same loneliness that Messi feels?
R. There are different kinds of loneliness. I knew there was nothing wrong with me, just the way society accepts minorities. I had to choose: keep quiet or speak up. And if I spoke up I knew it would benefit not only myself but others as well. Others had helped me when they left before me. This was my chance to help.
P. Has it helped anyone?
R. At least, there is a need to try. There are so many people who follow football. I know that some people do not change their minds, but I only hope that I can improve the situation of those who are afraid to speak out.
P.In men’s football locker rooms, is it all about women, cars and money?
R. It’s not wrong… [se ríe]But football is also talked about a lot. There is a big difference between football and politics, for example.
P. Which?
RThere is a more intimate situation. In football there is something that does not happen in politics: there are no showers. Politicians do not change every day in a locker room. You cannot underestimate that aspect. For some, that intimacy can be irritating. And when you are not educated, they can have strange fantasies. That needs to be changed. It is a long road.
P.Is education the only solution?
R.If we are not visible, some people might think we don’t exist. Many people have told me that it’s okay for me to be gay, but why do I have to talk about it in public when it’s something private.
P.Are we going back to silence?
R.If I don’t talk about it and nobody else does, then a lot of people might think that homosexuality doesn’t exist. And that’s the difference. It’s very important for it to be visible. That’s when education is important, yes.
P. There is a lot of information today.
R.But the problem is how we use that information. You and I can use it to create more respect. But others can use it to spread hate.
P. So?
R. The most powerful thing is to work on self-esteem. If you are part of a minority and people bother you, you have to know that the problem is not yours. That no one can intimidate you or discriminate against you. Working on that confidence is more effective than criticizing society.
P. You talk about bullying and discrimination, but is bullying normalised in football?
R.It’s not easy being a football player sometimes. The opposing team’s fans don’t like you, sometimes even your own team’s fans if you don’t play well. You need to have a very thick skin. But bullying is part of our society. It’s sad. But do you know who the bullies are?
P. Who is it?
A. They are often weak, insecure people. That is what we need to understand. That we have a responsibility and that responsibility consists of not accepting it.
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