The whole football world is now talking about Jakub Jankto.
Photo: imago/Marco Canoniero
‘A life of freedom. Without fears. Without prejudices. Without violence. But with love.« Jakub Jankto shares these wishes with millions of people. Extraordinary and particularly important was that Video message from the Czech on Monday anyway. She ends with the words: “I’m homosexual and I don’t want to hide any longer.” The 27-year-old from Prague is only the third footballer to come out as an active professional.
The reactions were not long in coming. When a prominent coach like Julian Nagelsmann from the big FC Bayern Munich thinks that the world is colorful, including football, at the same time praises Jankto’s courage, but thinks that it “should be normal”, that can help. The world association shows why the topic is sadly still taboo in this sport. In addition to many clubs, Fifa also promised Jankto support. “We are all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone,” commented the world association with a heart and a rainbow flag on his tweet on Twitter. Fifa’s behavior at the World Cup in Qatar showed how dishonest that is.
By not setting the decisive framework conditions, those responsible make the path to normality in sport considerably more difficult. Protagonists like Jakub Jankto are all the more important. Because he is not only known in his home country, for which he has played 45 international matches in the national jersey so far. The offensive player has also been celebrated in Italy and Spain. He moved to Udinese from his youth club Slavia Prague in 2014 and then played in Ascoli and Genoa. From the Spanish first division club Getafe, which he joined in the summer of 2021, he returned to Prague six months ago, to record champions Sparta.
Now the whole football world is talking about Jakub Jankto. All he really wants to do is lead a completely normal life, with »family, friends, work«. And with love.
