Berr denounces “hatred and structural violence against trans women by institutions, the media and also many people who are engaged in harassing people who break the norm.” The footballer tells ARA that she has had several unpleasant experiences with the press, and that she has met people “unprepared to understand or want to understand what it means to be a trans footballer.” There have also been heavy comments he has had to hear for the simple fact of wanting to play football. “It has been hinted in certain media that I am a danger to girls in women’s clothing,” she says.
Regarding institutions, she laments the burden of feeling “permanently suspicious” when it comes to meeting testosterone limits for being part of a women’s team. The footballer born in Ripollet criticizes the pressure she suffers when she is “constantly” required to comply with the standards set by international bodies so that they do not prohibit her from playing. Levels that, as Berr explains, many non-trans partners “can far exceed without any problems.”
All this has led the footballer to make this decision. “I want it to be today, June 28, the day that officially puts an end to my career. A race that has been painful, full of obstacles and violence that does not fit in ten statements and that it has nothing to do with the ball. But it has also been and is a pride to put the body so that future generations can live it with less pain, less obstacles and less violence. May they live football as it is: football. ”
Berr did not want to forget his teammates, his rivals and the various clubs in which he has played. He thanked them for their support and understanding of sexual diversity in the world of football. “We are lesbians, heterosexuals, bisexuals, very masculine girls, very feminine girls, also trans girls and even trans boys! Women’s football, far from being exclusive, is rich and tries to embrace everyone who wants to form it. “The reality is diverse, and women’s football is that reality. It has nothing to do with this parallel world of men with multimillion-dollar contracts, hegemonic masculinity and compulsory heterosexuality.”
The support of EC Europe
For its part, the EC Europe, which together landed in 2020, has given its full support through a statement. “We would all like sports casualties or football retirements to be the first only for purely sporting decisions and the second out of conviction, with a good end to the history of the athlete in question. This is not the case with Valentina “She has had to put on her boots for mental health reasons. In recent years, the footballer has experienced pressure, contempt and insults from different backgrounds and groups for being a trans player,” they said. In addition, the scapular entity has previously positioned itself against this type of discrimination with the campaign Diem noanti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-homophobic and anti-bullying.
Berr, who became the first trans player to participate in a women’s soccer match as a federation in 2018, now sees that she has no strength to continue. He says goodbye to a passion, but will continue with his project of dissemination and normalization of trans and LGTBI + realities called the answer to everything, based on podcasts, training talks and educational content on social media. His struggle continues.
