Which country is most accepting of gay footballers?

A new survey carried out by Football Addicts and Stonewall has found that Irish fans are the most accepting of gay footballers.

30,000 people from 31 different countries took part in the anonymous poll, which asked fans how they would feel about a gay player featuring in their national team.

83% of Irish fans said they would be completely comfortable with a member of their national team coming out as gay. Sweden and the UK followed in second and third, with 79% and 73% respectively.

Meanwhile, Brazil – the hosts of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup – polled 67% in eighth place. Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were found to be the least tolerant, polling between 7% and 21%.

Patrik Arnesson, the 28 year old co-founder of Gothenburg-based Football Addicts, commented: “Many of these results are encouraging, showing just how far football has come on the topic of gay rights in the past few years. However, some of the statistics are disappointing, and demonstrate how much more needs to be done around attitudes towards gay footballers.

“FIFA president Sepp Blatter has pledged ‘zero tolerance’ towards discrimination at the World Cup, and fans from all countries should stand united against homophobia in the sport that we love.

“It is significant that the only country in Europe who currently has an openly gay professional player – Sweden’s Anton Hysén – is second on the list for tolerance, proving that exposure to the reality of gay footballers, and a tolerant, forward-thinking society like Sweden’s, is what is needed to change attitudes for good.”

Other UK results found that 43% of fans consider football an anti-gay sport, while 34% disagreed, and 23% said they were unsure. 68% think more needs to be done to tackle homophobia in sport, while 28% think no more needs to be done.

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