Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale says he will no longer stay quiet when he encounters homophobic comments in dressing rooms and on social media.
Keeper Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal and England promises to speak out against homophobia in football.
The 25-year-old stated that he wants football to be “welcoming for everyone” so that his gay brother can watch games without worrying about being harassed.
He said that he “felt bad” for the Tottenham supporter who attacked him in January in a piece for The Players’ Tribune.
Ramsdale disclosed that his wife had miscarried three days ago.
After a season in which he participated in all 38 Premier League games as part of runners-up Arsenal’s title challenge, the England international signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal in May.
Even though he admitted that he had never before spoken openly about his brother’s sexual orientation, he believed that it was the appropriate moment to do so “with everything going on in football right now.”
A Fulham supporter was given a three-year ban from football in July after pleading guilty to a public order violation involving homophobic chanting. This is the same offence for which Wolves was recently fined £100,000, with “a large number of supporters” engaged.
“I desire this game.” Ramsdale remarked, “I love to be a safe and inviting place for everyone.
“I want anyone who attends sports, regardless of their sexual orientation, colour, or religion, to do so without worrying about being harassed.
I’ve probably held my mouth too many times over the years when I hear homophobic remarks or foolish things said.
“I suspect my brother may have followed suit, believing it would make my life simpler. Everything stops today.
A man was banned from football matches for four years after he kicked Ramsdale in the back at the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this year.
Reflecting on that incident, Ramsdale said he felt bad for the individual, whom he believes would not have behaved that way had he been aware of what he was going through at the time.
During a six-hour flight back to London from a post-World Cup holiday a few days before the match, Ramsdale’s wife suffered a miscarriage.
“There’s really no way that I can describe the pain of that six-hour flight back to London, even now,” he said.
I simply want everyone to know that, if they are experiencing it themselves, they are not alone.
“Especially in the last few years, you see so much negativity and toxicity in football,” he continued. It seems like a lot of people have lost all perspective, whether it be on social media or at the grounds.
Ramsdale commended Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, for his assistance.
He asked me if I needed some time off to deal with everything “even in the middle of the title race, with so much pressure on the club,” he remarked.
“Mikel went out of his way to make sure that my family and I were okay. That’s a manager to me.
