football
Homosexuality made public: Respect for Jankto
Made his homosexuality public: Jakub Jankto. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
Whether Hitzlsperger, Nagelsmann or first and second division teams: Czech international Jankto has earned respect from German football for having made his homosexuality public.
Ex-national player Thomas Hitzlsperger, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann and German football clubs have paid tribute to Czech international Jakub Jankto for his public coming out.
“What a player! What a personality!” Hitzlsperger wrote on social media. In 2014, after the end of his career, the 40-year-old was the first prominent German footballer to make his homosexuality known. “Well done, Jakub, that you speak up and show others the way,” acknowledged the 2006 World Cup bronze medalist.
Midfielder Jakub Jankto from Sparta Prague became the first active football professional in the Czech elite league to make his homosexuality public on Monday. “I’m gay – and I don’t want to hide anymore,” the 27-year-old said in a video posted to social media. He wants to lead his life in freedom, “without fear, without prejudice, without violence, but with love,” emphasized the Czech international, who also played at the 2021 European Championship.
Julian Nagelsmann also verbally took his hat off to Jankto for his step. “I consider it courageous, but it should be normal. The world is very colorful. That’s good for society. I think it can be an extreme burden not being able to come out. It should become normal. Football is colorful . I’m happy that he did it,” said the Bayern Munich coach.
Borussia Dortmund wrote about Jankto’s video on Twitter: “Respect and thanks, Jakub! Football is for everyone,” said the Bundesliga third and added a rainbow flag. The reaction of VfB Stuttgart was similar. “Congratulations, respect and love from Stuttgart. We’ll have your back,” wrote the Bundesliga 17. on twitter. FSV Mainz 05 said: “Well said, Jakub” and wrote next to a rainbow flag: “Love = love”. And Eintracht Frankfurt declared: “Love has no borders”.
Second division club Holstein Kiel called Jankto “an inspiration” and wrote about his video clip: “Love knows no gender – football is for everyone!” League opponent Hamburger SV called Jankto’s move to make his homosexuality public “brave and important”. 1. FC Nuremberg and Hannover 96 gave more details. The Franconians wrote that they had great respect for this courageous step. And further: “In 2023, the coming out of an active football professional should not be a sensation, but a matter of course.” Hannover found that this was “a very important step in the right direction – for an open society on and off the pitch”.
Hitzlsperger on Twitter Hitzlsperger story on Instagram Video Jankto Tweet VfB Stuttgart Tweet Borussia Dortmund Tweet Holstein Kiel Tweet Hamburger SV Tweet 1. FC Nürnberg Tweet Hannover 96