Jennifer Hermoso was one of the main protagonists of the year 2023. The soccer player from Madrid, who currently plays for the Mexican Tigres UANL, fulfilled one of the dreams of many soccer players who want to reach the elite: to become world champion. Her victory with the Spanish team in Sydney was one of the sporting milestones of the year. However, Luis Rubiales stained a historical scene with a kiss without consent that left it in the background.
Hermoso was the guest of Jesús Calleja at the premiere of the twelfth season of Planeta Calleja, on Cuatro. Her visit to the glaciers and volcanoes of Iceland was adorned by a multitude of allegations, opinions and reflections on different topics that have affected her life and in her last months. One of the most notable of the day was a criticism related to homosexuality in the world of football, and how many players can end up silenced.
Firstly, the footballer herself confessed that she never explained to her family that she liked women, even though they were aware of it. “I never got to say it. I have never openly said that I like girls. It's something that was always taboo. It was never necessary to ask, my parents knew,” she explained. Likewise, Hermoso launched a plea against silencing or attacking footballers who openly declare that they are homosexual.
“There is a prototype of a footballer who is married, has a wife and has children, and several players have come out saying that they were gay and in the end they have received a lot of hate. That player who feels this way does not believe that it is good for his future and they are not going to say it because in men's football it is unlikely that they will treat you in a way that makes you feel good, and that for the player the image is very important,” said the Mexican Tigres player.
The cases of homosexual male footballers playing in Spain can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and it is still a scourge on many fronts to confess their orientation to the public. The hatred of social networks and the fear of uncomfortable looks from colleagues and managers are fears that are still present. In 2023 two names took the step and revealed their homosexuality to the football world: Jakub Jankto, formerly of Getafe now at Cagliari; and Alberto Lejárraga from Marbella.
Within this dynamic, several footballers have starred in campaigns to publicize situations of abuse. One of them was “El Panda” Borja Iglesias, forward of Real Betis, who starred in a spot where he subverted the roles and confessed to being heterosexual to the stupor of society: “This would never happen... and why would it happen?” another yes? In 2022 the number of attacks against sexual orientation has increased by 70%. "They don't attack me for being heterosexual."
