Senior Tory MP: “Football Is Still Intolerant Of Gay People”
Julian Knight, chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee commented on the fact that there is no openly gay player in the UK stating it is “incredible”.
In a recent interview, Mr. Knight said: “It's incredible is it not, in a Premier League of several hundred players… that we don't have an openly gay footballer.
“Football is still homophobic, it's intolerant of gay people.”
According to ‘Politics Home’, Knight expressed his desire to change the Football (Offences) Act 1991 in order to outlaw homophobia in football grounds, making it the same as racism.
“[Amending the Act] is something that has been mooted for a long time, but because of elections, it’s never happened. We’ve got a good run now. Let’s go for that,” he said.
Previous chairman Damian Collins had said about the issue that: "From the evidence we have received in this inquiry, we believe there are many gay athletes who have not come out, because they are frightened of the impact this decision will have on their careers, and the lives of the people they love.
“That is not acceptable and should not be tolerated.”
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