[ad_1]
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has said he is dealing with “out of place” comments aimed at gay teammates, adding that he wants to create a “safe environment” at Chelsea so that LGBTQ+ players are welcome at Stamford Bridge.
In an exclusive interview with Chelsea Pernille Harder and Magda Eriksson, Azpilicueta spoke to The HangOut – a collaboration between Sky Sports and Ten Toes Media – about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Blues.
Azpilicueta said: “I have a friend who is gay and I will try to help in a way that is comfortable. If I see or hear inappropriate comments … I deal with them immediately.
“The most important thing for me is to try to create an environment where everyone is safe, not only by doing the campaign that we do, which is amazing, but by raising awareness for the world.
“We know how strong football is, but also every day we try to create an environment where we are.”
Magda Eriksson (center) thinks the conversation is a way to normalize LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Games
Azpilicueta’s opinion and vision, if implemented, could be powerful according to Eriksson and Harder.
Eriksson said: “I can imagine a lot of young academy boys watching this and seeing how you behaved, and I think they feel ‘okay, maybe there’s a place for me in football’.
“And I think it’s really important that you come here today, and that you talk normally about it, and that you open up about it. I think it’s a conversation that, in the end, will help a lot.”
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Founder of LGBT+ Sports Media Jon Holmes discusses the positive reaction and outpouring of support after Blackpool’s Jake Daniels came out publicly as gay.
Last year, Blackpool’s Jake Daniels became the first English professional footballer to come out publicly as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990, while in 2021 Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo also came out.
Asked if this had been discussed in the Chelsea dressing room, Azpilicueta said: “It was discussed because, of course, it’s big news.
“I think it’s a good example of courage, being yourself in this case. But, things like that, I have to normalize when they happen.”
Azpilicueta also explores how the LGBTQ+ conversation has changed over the years and how education around the issue has improved.
“I can talk about the last 15 years,” he said. “But I think if we go back in time, it’s different.
“Football, and also society develops, and I think that football, in the past, has been a bit difficult.
“This is the way that you now try to make people free and happy to express themselves on the field, but also on the field.
“I think education today, I’m sure, is different than 10 years ago. And now the children, I think they know better the situation how everyone can be themselves and not have problems.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Almost a year after becoming the first gay player in men’s professional football, Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo spoke to Tim Thornton about his life since the announcement and how his decision has helped inspire others.
“I think that’s the way forward, trying to make it – a place that works for everyone.
“So why did he have to stop playing football – because he didn’t feel it was the right place for him?”
The Spain international joined Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille, and talks with Harder and Eriksson, who also played across the continent, about helping his new teammates settle in at the club.
The 33-year-old said: “The first thing I wanted to do, when he came to the dressing room, was to welcome him, show him the place so that he can hurry up.
“If they need help, housing, school if they have children, whatever the situation is because some of the young players, coming to London, they come alone.
“I think mentality is very important and that you are honest with yourself.”
Cesar Azpilicueta after Chelsea won the 2021 Champions League
Azpilicueta has a large online presence of 3.5m Instagram followers and 2.7m Twitter his followers.
But in 2021, Azpilicueta joined a three-day social media boycott, along with other players, clubs and governing bodies to stress that social media companies must do more to eradicate hate.
In June 2020, he held a training session for young players and their parents in the eSports team, Falcons, to prevent hate and provide solutions to online bullying.
Cesar Azpilicueta talks about the importance of helping new teammates
Asked if he read the hateful comments again, he replied: “It’s such a hot topic on social media right now, it’s such a dangerous thing for people to deal with.
“Sometimes you don’t need to read or see if you’re playing well or not, you know if you’re playing well or not.
“I’m more on social media now. In the beginning, when I first joined, I didn’t have it and then like you should, because it’s a great way to connect with fans all over the world.
“But it’s sad that from the platform, when we have a lot of very bad examples, we don’t have a response from them also to help people stay safe.
“You have to feel safe in the environment. You don’t have to be afraid when you click, and what will happen, you never know it’s so bad. So, lately I’ve left it even more on the side.”
[ad_2]
Source link