German FA chairman backs players coming out

Monday 8 Feb 2010
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Theo Zwanziger, the chairman of the German FA, has promised to give full support to any gay footballers who decide to come out.

Zwanziger believes that players cannot fulfil their maximum potential, because they lose too much energy in hiding their true personality. He said:

“The DFB will take decisive action against every [form of] discrimination. Girls and boys should play football, whatever their sexual orientation.”

Zwanziger was motivated to end the taboo on homosexuality and depression in November last year after the suicide of national goalkeeper Robert Enke. He suffered severe depression  after the death of his daughter, and threw himself under a train.

As reported in Stern, Zwanziger said at the time of Enke’s death:

“If we want to do justice to Robert Enke, we must make sure that everyone in football can live without fear – with their strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.”

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