TNT Sports & Rylan tackle homophobia in football

TNT Sports and presenter Rylan have created Rylan: Homophobia, Football And Me, a documentary looking at the latter’s experiences with homophobia in football. 

The 45-minute show looks at why football is not always a welcoming community for gay men, examining the effects of homophobia on those exposed to it. It draws on the personal experiences of Rylan, who was raised as a West Ham fan, and a member of the Junior Hammers supporters club growing up, before feeling pushed out of the game by homophobic attitudes.

It will be released at 22:45 on 13 February on discovery+ and TNT Sports 1 to coincide with LGBT History Month, and will also feature interviews with past and current players. These include former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger talking about how he came out as a gay man after retiring, ex-Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand on his use of a homophobic slur live on BBC Radio 1 and how his attitudes have changed, and Arsenal women’s player Jen Beattie on the differing attitudes to homosexuality within the female game.

Buzz 16 has produced the documentary.

Rylan said: “Growing up loving football and being a West Ham fan, I always assumed that I’d be able to go to games whenever I wanted as I got older. But as time moved on and as a gay man, I sometimes felt uncomfortable around spectators at games. I’m not one to be easily offended but some of the language and insults that’re used on a daily basis by football crowds made going to games almost impossible, especially as I got more and more known and started having them directed at me.

“This documentary aims to highlight that football is for everyone regardless of what you get up to in your private life. I talk to fans, players, past and present, about how the beautiful game could be even prettier for everyone to enjoy, and how as fans we can change to help make players feel comfortable sharing their sexuality if they wish to do so.”

Ferdinand added: “Discrimination in any form has no place in society and it has been confronting to hear what Rylan has had to endure as a gay man who simply wanted to go and support his local football team.

“As a young man, I was guilty of flippantly using words and phrases that I recognise were completely wrong and it’s something I open up to Rylan about in the documentary. Contributing to the documentary and speaking to Rylan at length was an education in itself to gain an insight into his world.”

Scott Young, group SVP for content, production and business operations at WBD Sports Europe, commented: “As a multi-sport broadcaster, we are committed to telling the whole story around every sport we show both on and off the pitch. We also have a duty to reflect the communities we serve to enable a deeper connection between the fans and the sports they love, which includes tackling societal issues head on.

“Outdated and bigoted views towards homosexuality within sport and society is an issue we take incredibly seriously and we are relentless in our pursuit of new voices to shine a light on the topic. We are privileged to have worked closely with Rylan on this project and to benefit from his experiences and his emotive journey through football’s problem with confronting homosexuality. Within our new documentary, Rylan offers his powerful insights and candour which has enabled us to authentically convey the problems and solutions present within football and we know fans will be informed and inspired by his unique perspectives.”