MMore than four million people saw his video on his Instagram page alone on Tuesday morning. It’s only 45 seconds long, the background is black, and the focus is on Jakub Jantko, 27, Czech national footballer. On Monday afternoon, Jantko made it public on social networks, which is still an exception in the international football business: he came out as homosexual.
“Like everyone else, I want to live my life freely. Without fears. Without prejudices. Without violence. But with love. I’m gay – and I don’t want to hide anymore,” says Jantko in the video, for which he has now received a lot of respect. “What a player! What a personality!” wrote about Thomas Hitzlspergerwho in 2014, after the end of his professional career, was the first prominent German soccer player to make his homosexuality public.
“Live your life, Jakub”
Jantko is only the third active soccer player who has dared to take this step – and he is the first national player. Midfielder Josh Cavallo, who plays in the Australian A-League, came out in 2021, followed a year later by English striker Jake Daniels, who played for Blackpool FC in his youth. Jantko has made 45 appearances for the Czech national team and was included in the squad for the 2021 European Championship.
The midfielder came from Slavia Prague’s youth team, switched to Udinese Calcio at the age of 18 and later played for Sampdoria Genoa and FC Getafe in Spain. Overall, he made 155 appearances in Serie A, scoring 17 goals and providing 17 assists. In Spain he has made 14 appearances in the top division so far. He has been loaned to Sparta Prague since last summer. The Czech club responded on Twitter: “You have our support. Live your life, Jakub.”
There were also reactions from the Bundesliga. Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of FC Bayern Munich, said: “It’s good for society. I think it can be extremely stressful not being able to come out. It should become normal. Football is colourful. I’m glad he did it.” Borussia Dortmund wrote on Twitter: “Respect and thanks, Jakub! Football is for everyone.” The club put up a rainbow flag.
The world football association FIFA wrote on Twitter: “We are all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone.” There was also a heart and a rainbow flag. What followed online was criticism of FIFA. At the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year, fans with rainbow symbols were not allowed into the stadium. Several teams, including Germany, were not allowed to wear the One Love captain’s armband.
The Czech Republic did not qualify for the World Cup. The team narrowly lost to Sweden in the semi-finals of the play-offs and only lost 0-1 after extra time with a goal in the 110th minute of the game. Jantko was in the starting lineup in this game.
