Ninth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Inclusive Masculinities, Homosexuality and Homophobia in German Professional SoccerGerman society and even German soccer have become more acceptant of the idea of inclusive masculinities. Hyper-masculinity is no longer the only paradigm dominating discourses on soccer. Other forms of masculinities have become far more accepted in the German public and its soccer community. Nevertheless, two major aspects of homophobia remain part of the German soccer scene. First, homophobic epithets and chants remain very much part of the climate in the soccer stadiums. Second, there is the absence of openly homosexual top-level soccer players. So far, no active players in top division German soccer have come out as gay. What explains this contrast between the acceptance of inclusive masculinities and the continued homophobia of the game? This paper analyses discourses on masculinity, homosexuality and homophobia in German professional soccer to address this puzzle. I argue that the increasing commercialization of the game and the efforts of preserving the tradition of the game tend to pull in the same direction. Efforts of preserving the traditions of a “manly” game and the potential commercial “punishment” of openly gay players help in maintaining the dominance of traditional masculinity in the game.