Association Football and the Representation of Homosexuality by the Print Media

A Case Study of Anton Hysén

Bibliographic Data

ID3637545
AuthorsJ Cleland (0000-0001-8852-2257, Loughborough University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume61
Issue9
Pages1269-1287
Publication date2014-09-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Homosexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-8369 • E-ISSN: 1540-3602
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00918369.2014.926765
PMID24871942
OpenAlexW2048808312
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited43

In March 2011, Anton Hysén (a semiprofessional footballer currently playing in the Swedish fourth division) became only the second association football (soccer) player of any professional disposition to publicly declare his homosexuality while still playing the game. This article provides a textual analysis of the print media's reaction to Hysén coming out and examines whether, in 2011, they portray more inclusive notions toward homosexuality than they did in 1990 when British footballer Justin Fashanu came out. The results advance inclusive masculinity theory as a number of print media sources (mostly British) interview Hysén in the weeks immediately after he came out and publish articles that challenge homophobia. Highlighting a change since 1990, a significant number of articles stress the need for the key stakeholders in football (players, fans, clubs, agents, the authorities, and the media) to accept gay players

Advertising · Association (psychology · Football · Homosexuality · Masculinity · Media coverage · Media studies · Newspaper · Political science · Politics · Print media · Representation (politics · Sociology · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports Analytics and Performance · Sports, Gender, and Society

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