HOMOPHOBIA IN FOOTBALL
LaLiga clubs respond to Panenka anti-homophobia campaign
Six La Liga Santander sides and seven LaLiga 1|2|3 clubs backed the Spanish football magazines' campaign to combat homophobia in the game.
The current issue of respected Spanish football magazine Panenka tackles he problem of homophobia in the game through interviews with the likes of openly gay former midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, former French player and coach Oliver Touyer as well as players from the world's most successful gay football club, Stonewall FC.
In an effort to drive awareness in Spain against an ongoing problem in the game, the Barcelona based magazine sent rainbow-flag arm bands to all first and division clubs in Spain and contacted league administrators, LaLiga in an effort to secure their support with the campaign. Whilst the governing body lent their verbal support to the initiative they decided on this occasion not to get actively in the drive.
In the end six top flight teams (Eibar, Sevilla, Leganes, Granada, Las Palmas and Espanyol) and seven clubs from Spain's second tier (Rayo Vallecano, Girona, Sevilla Atletico, Cadiz, Huesca, Oviedo and Reus) along with other historic sides now laboring in 2B sich as Real Murcia, Extremadura, and Recreativo Huelva all saw their respective club captains don the rainbow flag armband during their league game over the weekend.