Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Reuser Amongst Dutch Players at Gay Pride
Sunday, 28th Jul 2013 19:33

Former Blue Martijn Reuser will be amongst a number of high profile Dutch players on a boat at Gay Pride in Amsterdam next Saturday. The Dutch FA, the KNVB, has organised the boat which will take part in the annual parade along Amsterdam’s canals for the first time in support of gay acceptance within Dutch football.

Reuser told TWTD why he and the other players will be on board: “We were called last week and they asked us if we wanted to make a statement and join in on the Dutch FA boat.

“The most prominent man on the boat is Louis Van Gaal, the head coach of the Dutch national team.

"I think Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Patrick Kluivert will also be there and I’m joining in as well because I don’t mind if you are gay or lesbian or whatever. As long as you respect each other, what’s the deal?”

Amongst the other players on the boat will be Ronald de Boer, Aron Winter, Regi Blinker, Bryan Roy and Michael Mols.

With only a couple of openly gay players throughout world football, most notably ex-Leeds man Robbie Rogers, who is now with MLS side the LA Galaxy, Reuser says he’s never knowingly played alongside a gay team-mate: “To be honest, I’ve played with a lot of football players and I’ve never played with a gay colleague or at least not someone I know of or had any suspicions about.

“Maybe it’s because if you are in the dressing room you make a lot of jokes about women and subjects like that that maybe it’s difficult to come out of the closet.”

Despite this, he doesn’t believe the majority of players would have an issue with gay team-mates: “I don’t think so. I will be on the boat because I don’t have any problem with it and hopefully that makes people aware, or football players aware, that no matter who you are, black, white or gay, you’re one of the guys, and I want show that to Holland and to the world.”

Reuser, 38, retired from playing three years ago and passed his UEFA B Licence earlier this year. Last Monday, in addition to work with Dutch TV, he started his coaching career at his final club NAC Breda, taking charge of their U12s.

In December, Reuser spoke to TWTD's Ex-Files series.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



Big_Foot_Blue added 20:07 - Jul 28
Get him in our academy if hes ever available!
0

Steve_M added 20:11 - Jul 28
Good to see Reuser has a more enlightened attitude to homosexuality than a fair number of Town fans still do.
0

ThatMuhrenCross added 20:11 - Jul 28
Not sure there is ever likely to be a large number of openly gay players in football. It is the 21st Century now, and anyone would be accepted, no matter what their colour, creed or sexuality. However, as Reuser points out, there is a 'macho' element to a football dressing room. A player who tries to do fancy tricks or cares about his appearance will, whether it is right or wrong, still receive 'gay' jokes. It's not exactly an environment suited to being homosexual.
0

Tractorog added 20:17 - Jul 28
Good for him.
0

Michael11 added 20:29 - Jul 28
After seeing him pop that 4th goal in against Barnsley on Sky Sports again tonight, i honestly wouldn't care what he does! Will always love you here Martijn!
0

TrueBlueFerret added 20:38 - Jul 28
You Rock My Boat REUSEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!!
0

footers added 20:52 - Jul 28
Read the hedline and thought my luck was in as am off to Brighton Pride this weekend. Not gay myself but if Reuser had been there, would've given it a go!
0

IpswichLewis added 21:02 - Jul 28
jreuser22...Surely there's somewhere else you'd rather be this weekend coming...the 3rd of August...I know where ill be...at The Three Guineas by reading station before the game ;) Come on the town!!!
0

footers added 21:18 - Jul 28
I know! Unfortunately, got to say farewell to a mate who's leaving the country for quite a few years... Plus, will have an entire season of wins to watch so won't be missing out!
0

Wallingford_Boy added 22:32 - Jul 28
See u there ipswichlewis.. Mines a pint!
0

Marcus added 01:46 - Jul 29
You don't have to be gay to support gay rights. Substitute 'gay' for 'black' or 'women's' rights and hopefully the point will be clear. It's good to see some players and coaches taking the lead however it's only a start and it would be great to see more supporter inspired and led campaigns rather than just the half-hearted 'Kick It Out' campaign, which only seems to include homophobia as an issue for tick-box reasons. I've also noted the lack of action from the FSF so I guess leadership needs to come from elsewhere.

It's still amazing that there are so few openly gay footballers and none in any of the British professional or semi-professional game. Cultural changes are needed and these need to start from the supporters, the players, the FA, the FSA and the Football League. The sad part is that I still see it as a matter of 'starting' rather than progressing.

Homophobic abuse is the use of language that denigrates someone due to their assumed sexuality. What that means is that someone doesn't need to be gay to experience homophobia (think of the abuse Tom Daley got at school). Ultimately it's redirected racism from those who feel that they need a victim to pick on and I for one strongly believe that football shouldn't be the safe haven for overgrown schoolyard bullies.

At Ipswich I've witnessed (or been targeted) extensive homophobic abuse. It is from a very vocal but small minority (and I've noticed some have EDL/C18 connections as evidenced from their Facebook profiles). Fortunately the majority are against discrimination however a silent majority doesn't effectively stand up for the rights of individuals who face abuse.

Progress is needed both at national and grassroots levels. I welcome an official comment from the Ipswich supporters clubs (both official and unofficial versions) about what the club is proactively doing above and beyond what they are required to do by the FA to train stewards and what they do reactively after incidents happen.
0

algarvefan added 01:56 - Jul 29
I'm heartened by the comments that I have read on here, discrimination of any kind is wrong and I have challenged racist comments at several football matches in the past, received abuse and then much support from right minded people around me.

More of us should stand up against discrimination of all kinds rather than picking off different groups, which instantly makes them different, if you get my point!

Football against all discrimination is a strapline I'd like to see.
0

yun added 06:19 - Jul 29
Top man, Martijn. Always exciting to watch him play. If there's a five-aside tournament at Dutch Gay Pride, I think I know who's going to win!
0

itsalltootoomuch added 07:07 - Jul 29
Great comments 'Marcus'. However, any changes within the game itself, whether concerning racism, homophobia, or the absurd (and evidently failing) "Respect" campaign will need to be driven forward by the Football Association. Unfortunately the FA are so enchained by the riches and greed of their Premiership masters that sod all will get done about it. The County Associations are more or less powerless to do more than bleat without the FA taking the lead so the grassroots game will never have a true voice, and all those supporters out there, like the ones who've posted about the subject on here will remain voices in the wilderness. It's all pretty sad really.
0

tractorboydan added 07:52 - Jul 29
Very well said, Marcus.

Though it's not just the lack in supporter-led campaigns, it's also the actions of the players' agents. I saw a programme on homosexuality within football a few years ago (I forget its name), and it featured a fairly prominent agent (his name escapes me, too), who openly admitted that he had had several players on his books through his career that had asked his advice about their being gay and how they should approach it regarding coming out etc, and that he always advised them to keep it to themselves.

There were a multitude of reasons, including player safety, protection from abuse, the belief that being openly gay would reduce transfer opportunities and earnings, etc etc.

Ultimately on the face of it he is protecting the player, but I'm sure the underlying issue for him was his pocket, and how these players being openly gay may affect how well it was lined!

Even if his intentions were solely the protection of these players, and not in any way money related (which being and agent, I doubt), then it was still only a way of shielding them from abuse, and not cutting out the abuse at its source.
0

Marcus added 08:37 - Jul 29
@itsalltootoomuch - I generally agree with you although I think there are times where supporter groups need to take the initiative in order to motivate the FA to do what they should be doing.

PS. No need to put quotes around my name, Marcus has been my name long before that Evans chap got involved in the club.
0

Marcus added 08:42 - Jul 29
@tractorboydan - some good points. Perhaps we can learn a bit from Welsh rugby. When Gareth Thomas came out as gay it was only after he was established as a top international player and was at the tail end of his career. I expect the first football players to be open about their sexuality will be those close to retirement so they can test the water for others.
0

Marcus added 08:47 - Jul 29
Just for reference I came out myself in the 90s. As a result certain town 'fans' decided to target me. During goal celebrations I was elbowed in the face, I was tripped while walking down stairs (more than once), on more than one occasion I was punched in the face. The last time it happened it was right in front of CCTV cameras and was witnessed by an out of uniform policeman, as a result the police prosecuted the assailant and he was sentenced to six months for ABH with intent and assault. Knowing his friends would still around on police advice I stopped attending games.
0

tractorboydan added 09:27 - Jul 29
That's a shame, Marcus. At the end of the day you have in common with those people the only thing that really matters - the supporting of the same club.

Sexual orientation, skin colour, nationality, religion - they all add to the variety that make up the fabric of our society. You don't choose your sexuality, you don't choose your skin colour, you don't choose your nationality. They're natural, and should be treated as such.

When I see a black man, I don't see a 'black' man, I see another man, when I see a gay man, I don't see a 'gay' man, I see another man. I see someone that is the same as me. It's a shame that something as simple as that can't be adopted through the minority whose actions have such huge implications, and a shame that these things can still be so prominent in the 'beautiful' game.
I cannot see how someone's differing sexual orientation can fill an individual with such hatred.

Would these so called 'fans' suddenly stop supporting/start abusing their own player/s if they'd come out as gay? Sadly I think they would.

You're right about Gareth Thomas. It was very inspirational when he came out, and in such a firm and matter-of-fact manner too. I hope his actions have/will inspire any high profile gay footballer to follow suit, as I think it will take a high profile player to get the ball rolling, to get other players thinking "If he can do it, so can I..."

It must be difficult as a footballer though. I'm not gay myself so I cannot imagine the difficulties and the emotion and fear that can surround some people when going through the process of coming out, but for some it must be a terrifying process. As a footballer, particularly high profile ones, where everything you do is scrutinised in public it must be difficult. Particularly when you know fans in the terraces will use anything against you, even those that aren't anti-gay/homophobic, as the footballer isn't necessarily seen as another person from the view point of the stands, and anything is 'fair game'.
0

rabbit added 09:39 - Jul 29
Marcus you sound, quite reasonably, quite bitter I have no understanding of your experiences as I am not gay and I do not belong to an ethnic minority so any opinion I give I fully respect is only an opiion.
But for my part I don't think you should have stopped going to games, you should have stopped going to the area you were in which is clearly loaded with yobs and bigots, a trait that a certain faction of football supporters fall into.
Why should you change areas, well for my part I can only think that the un-enlighted minority will only be changed by stealth this is not a sprint but a marathon.
So go back to Portman Road do what you enjoy doing and find a way round the very real problems that are out there, but what ever don't give in.
0

Marcus added 09:44 - Jul 29
@rabbit. Most of the problems were at away games, not at Portman Road. I still go to games but less frequently, I guess I've lost a bit of desire I had when I was younger to attend regularly. I might pick up a game or two when I'm in Ipswich (I live in Wales now).
0

ITFCOYB added 15:57 - Jul 29
Awful and unforgivable experience, Marcus - i admire your stoicism in confronting it as you did. Does anyone know of any regional differences in attitudes? I've lived in London for years and, in the circles i move, gay and lesbian culture has been almost entirely subsumed into the mainstream, so this kind of thing seems incredibly backward. I'm glad the dutch are taking some kind of a lead on the issue. As for how to approach it in the UK game, i'm not sure that a top-down approach from the FA would be very effective - maybe i'm wrong, but i wouldn't trust professional footballers to uphold the dignity of a campaign, really. Maybe more opt-in stuff like the boat at Pride Amsterdam or the FA backing certain organisations - possibly fan based ones as Marcus suggests. As for dressing room banter - there's no excuse for bullying on any grounds and no reason that people should stop talking about women or sex or anything for any reason except if it's unlawful or inciting bigotry or law breaking. I have to say - i've heard some shocking and tasteless things in the dressing room and quite a few ignorant ones, but they are usually places of fun and friendship and acceptance. You fight for each other on the pitch and take the micky off it, but you stick together.
0

BlueBadger added 16:13 - Jul 29
Rabbit - it's not Marcus who needs his habits changing because of dickheads..it's the dickheads who need their behaviour changing.
0

ipswichoracle added 22:27 - Jul 29
@ThatMuhrenCross I'm sure you mean well, but saying that the dressing room isn't a place that suits "being homosexual" is part of the problem in itself. The dressing room shouldn't have any bias other than whether you're physically talented enough to be there. Yes, there may be stupid jokes and comments, but in time those will go. If a player has an issue with another player based on their sexual orientation then I'd say they have no part at the club and should probably live in a cave!
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024