German soccer star Leon Goretzka will soon head to Qatar to compete in the World Cup, but don’t count on him complying with FIFA’s plea that players keep their mouths shut and stick to football while visiting the anti-LGBTQ nation. The 27-year-old midfielder has proven he can excel on the field while still standing up for what is right. Imagine that.
In a letter to the 32 competing federations, FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote, “Please, let’s now focus on the football!” He asked them to “not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.”
It’s all a little convenient for FIFA to be holding up the sanctity of the sport after choosing Qatar, with all its well-documented human rights and LGBTQ abuses, in the first place. And it appears Qatari World Cup officials haven’t received the same memo. Just this week, Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman went on German TV and called homosexuality a “damage in the mind.”
Related: Here’s the damning new report Qatar doesn’t want the world to see before the World Cup
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Goretzka fired back at Salman’s comment following a recent win in Germany, calling it “very oppressive.”
“This is an image of a man that comes from another millennium,” he said, adding, “It leaves you speechless that something like this can be said by a World Cup ambassador shortly before a World Cup.”
Thankfully, Goretzka wasn’t speechless, and his willingness to speak out in support of LGBTQ soccer fans and players, not to mention human decency, makes him the kind of role model we love to see.
Here are three other times Goretzka went out of his way to have our backs:
“You have my support”
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German soccer legend Philip Lahm made headlines in 2011 when he wrote in his autobiography, The Subtle Difference, that closeted players should stay closeted. “I would not advise any gay professional footballer to come out,” he wrote, adding that he has “nothing against homosexuals” but fears how the world would react. Of course, by that logic, LGBTQ rights wouldn’t ever advance much.
When asked about it, Goretzka offered his refreshing counter-advise: “I would encourage everyone to assure them of my support and still understand if they don’t dare.
“My hope is that players will come out in my active career too. And I’m sure that the fans, in spite of all prophecies of doom, would deal with the topic much more naturally than we sometimes think.
“When it comes to such issues, our society is often much more advanced than sport.”
Rainbow connection
Come on, @UEFA? ?@EURO2020? – das kann doch nicht euer Ernst sein?! ???????? https://t.co/SMDkrTU0lh
— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitz) June 20, 2021
During the Euro 2020 games, Goretzka’s teammate Manuel Neuer wore a rainbow armband in an act of LGBTQ solidarity during Pride month.
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) rules dictate that captain’s armbands cannot display political symbolism, and the rainbow was initially deemed a violation by the organization’s administrative body. Um, rude.
The UEFA launched an investigation, and it was all pretty ridiculous since the armband was intended to show a “commitment to diversity, openness, tolerance and against hate and exclusion.”
Goretzka was among those who addressed the issue head on. “There are rules and guidelines at UEFA and the DFB,” he said at a press conference. “Sport should not be exploited – that is important and right.
“However, it would have been absurd if we had to apologize for it [the armband], as it is clear what that stands for.”
Related: David Beckham gushes over Qatar in cringey new video and the responses are brutal
Heart to heart
GORETZKA MIGHT'VE SAVED GERMANY ? pic.twitter.com/2WfJXrWysY
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2021
After scoring a goal during a match against Hungary in 2021, Goretzka reciprocated the cheering crowd’s adoration, making a heart symbol with his hands.
The sweet moment quickly went viral on social media, but behind the scenes, a less-inspiring story was developing. The UEFA had recently denied a request from Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter to put up rainbow lights at the stadium in celebration of Pride Month, and at this point we’re just wondering what the organization has against fun.
Goretzka knew he had a platform with his heartfelt moment in the spotlight, and used the opportunity to re-share the image along with a rainbow and a clear message: “Spread Love!”
Spread Love ???? Yes!!!!!!!! Wembley calling! ??@DFB_Team @euro2020 #gerhun #EURO2020 ?? pic.twitter.com/XRGUZKVJMx
— Leon Goretzka (@leongoretzka_) June 23, 2021
Message received! The tweet racked up nearly 55K likes and over 8K retweets.
So, what’s in store for Goretzka at the World Cup, which kicks off November 20? Only time will tell…
wikidBSTN
German – with a very Polish last name. Great guy for standing with us so publicly. THX!
Aranos
I’m German too and I too have a polish last name, as many germans have. So?? What issue do you have with that??
And guess what, you will find many Germans with names from all parts of the World. Deal with it. And my guess is, it’s just the same in your country.
abfab
It sounds to me like BSTN was highlighting and admiring his last name…Reg dich nicht so auf!
bachy
I, too appreciate his open support. But I do hope he’s being careful – don’t want him to end up like Brittney Griner, who was recently transferred to a Russian penal colony… location unknown.
Jim
Qatar really has to watch itself
It sponsoring the World Cup isn a PR move.
It isn’t going to end well with it’s disregard for human rights.
Fahd
He´s a great guy for speaking up, but really these are national teams from countries with reponsible governments that didn´t act when money, and nothing else, decided where the World Cup would be held. A corrupt FIFA elite has lined their pockets, there´s no doubt about that. Imagine the bribery! How much longer is this cadre of ultra rich FIFA guys going to get away with this sh’t? Now there´s all this handwringing about Qatar being a homophobic violator of human rights. Great, but it´s a little late and should be no surprise that the Qataris are Qataris. A backwater if there ever was one. And the pure greed involved is disgusting.
Kudos to Goretzka and to all the players who will be displaying the rainbow flag in one fashion or another. And a big F you to the Qataris. I say don´t watch (unless your team is in the last rounds) and buy American natural gas!
abfab
A backwater? Really now. Substitute USA in all the places you wrote Qatar and then get back to me.
CatholicXXX
German’s are a gift from god. Nothing but admiration and support for the people.
He’s gorgeous.
abfab
I think you meant to write DeSantis.
Kangol2
You never cease do outdo yourself–“a gift from god”? Ask the rest of Europe circa 1914 or 1939! Sheesh!
519
If I remember correctly they wanted to put up rainbow lights as a way to protest against the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and bills introduced by the Hungarian government around that time. And although UEFA denied the request, the city of Munich still put up rainbow flags all around the city to show their support and to annoy all the homophobic asshole Hungarian football fans. It was a nice gesture, I really appreciated it, but I wish the game ended with Germany beating Hungary instead of a tie. Hungarians would have been so butthurt about that…
Jim
FIFA made a really bad business decision SAD
cuteguy
What a true hero
SDR94103
now he’s hot.
RyanMBecker
He has kind eyes. And cute curly hair.
Speaking of football, he reminds me of American footballer, Chris Kluwe. He too fought homophobia in sports as well as society, in general. Some say that he lost his career because of his outspokeness. And yes, they’re both cute.
RyanMBecker
I didn’t know soccer players had such beefy arms…