Gay Footballer Justin Fashanu To Be Inducted In The National Football Museum Hall Of Fame
Britain’s first openly out football while an active player Justin Fashanu will be inducted in the National Football Museum Hall of Fame. No top-level footballer has come out during his career since. He was also the first £1m black football player.
Amal Fashanu, Justin’s niece who will be accepting the Hall of Fame award on his behalf, said his induction is well deserved, as ‘BBC’ reports.
“He's here now [in the Hall of Fame], you guys have acknowledged him, we all respect him, he's been given the position he deserves, and for me, that's all I've ever wanted for Justin," she added.
“I always thought he was a brave man, doing this to respect who he was - but as time passes, I'm thinking 'wow'… we're still waiting for a current footballer to say 'this is who I am, and I'm going to follow in Justin's footsteps and I'm going to be real about my sexuality and who I am so I can live the best life I possibly can’.
“I don't understand, even today, how Justin did it - he's one of the bravest men I've ever come across. You've got a black man who is gay and religious, all in one, and you can add it all up and it just sounds like a recipe for disaster because it was a very different time.
“The fact that Justin just got up and said 'this is who I am, I'm going to respect myself and get others to respect me for who I am', that is one of the most impressive things. And for him, as my uncle, I couldn't think of anything more honourable and I look up to it every day.”
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