“Is the world of football homophobic? Definitely a little bit, because if I'm the first footballer, it's like that.” Jankto 's words.
Jankto on 'Le Iene': interview after coming out
Tonight, Tuesday 21 February, in prime time on Italia1 , in the new episode of 'Le Iene', the statements of the Czech player Jakub Jankto , at the centre of the news for his recent coming out.
Interviewed in Prague by correspondent Nic Bello , for the first time and exclusively, he has his say.
Jakub Jankto's statements to 'Le Iene'
How are you?
“The decision, after 27 years, is quite important and I am very happy.”
The gesture you made, in the world of Calcium, it's a crazy revolution. What happened after you came out?
“For some it’s a revolution, for me it’s something absolutely normal.”
But what was people's reaction?
“They applauded me, we saw it the other night, in the first match after coming out, so the feelings are top”.
On the field, once you come out, do you no longer feel free? That is, does it change your way of playing, of experiencing sport?
"I posted on Instagram that, after a long time, I had played with a smile. You can win, you can score a hat-trick, you can score a goal but with a smile."
There are many fan groups that are accused of being racist. Aren't you afraid that there will be homophobic chants about you in the future?
“Especially when you play away from home they come and say certain swear words to you, ultras are like that.”
Was it hard to find the courage to say it?
“My God, yes! After 26 years with that barrier you can't live as you want and after that coming out I feel truly free and it's extraordinary”.
Do you think there might be other players who come out after you?
"A lot of people are afraid to put that thing 'out there.' For these people we also go and help."
You have an ex-girlfriend and a son. Aren't you afraid that your son might have repercussions at school?
"I'm also going to protect my wife, but because of what others do I can't do much. He's 3 and a half now and I hope that when he's 7/8 there will be more freedom."
We went to the training centers of the main teams and asked the players what they thought of your coming out. Many of them didn't stop, they went away and avoided us a bit. Do you think the world of football is homophobic?
“Definitely a little, because if I'm the first player, it's like this.”
There were a few sentences that I would like to comment with you. Damiano Tommasi, former footballer, says that in a football team you share an intimacy, a coming out could turn out to be a boomerang.
"Let's hope it's not like that, I don't even want to think it is like that. I put my face on it and I always will."
Maurizio Sarri said that football has become a sport for f**ks.
“These swear words seem a bit excessive to me, as Claudio Ranieri said, we are all one family”.
I want to read you something, the headline of a newspaper 'Jankto reaches the end of his career and remembers that he is gay. He enters history not for his sporting successes but because he is the first important footballer to reveal his homosexuality'.
“No, no, no, I have had a great career and I will continue to do so, I don’t want to consider these things because it is totally useless. I hope it becomes a normal thing, a positive message”.
