Openly gay footballer Collin Martin has called on England captain Harry Kane to show more support for the LGBT+ community ahead of their clash with the United States.
Kane had been set to wear a One Love armband at the World Cup, but FIFA threatened sporting sanctions to stop the striker doing so. Those threats have added to the feeling of ill-will, especially as the tournament is being held in Qatar, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be LGBT+.
Martin came out more than four years ago, while playing in the MLS, and has been left furious by the debacle. The San Diego Loyal midfielder is one of just four active openly gay professional footballers and believes that FIFA has harmed the progress that has been made.
"I mean it's pretty crazy to me that they wouldn't just allow any type of representation from these countries. These countries are wanting to support the LGBTQ community in a small way," Martin told Mirror Football .
"To me the armband is not going to solve the issues, it's not going to drastically change people's lives but it's symbolism and it is going to stand for something. Especially for people in the countries of these teams.
"They're looking up to their players and their idols and they're supporting this and it means a big deal to them. Even if the people in Qatar have no interest in having this conversation or seeing the symbolism, it's important for the people back in their own country.
"So I think it was a disappointing move by FIFA for sure, but now we have a chance for these players and teams to further the conversation in a different way. I personally understand that they wouldn't want to take a yellow card.
"But I do think they now have a responsibility to further the conversation in a different way."
That is a responsibility the players have so far mostly failed to live up to, with Kane and England so far doing little to show their support in a different way. And Martin has now urged Kane to take a stand in one of his press conferences at the very least.
"I'm not going to place blame on the players for not wearing armbands. But I still do think there's an opportunity to speak out and try to support the gay community in different ways. I think it would definitely be a missed opportunity for these players to speak up," he added.
"Even in a press conference would be great. Just to share the issues and I think some of these players need help. If there was someone in the FA that could sit Harry Kane down and tell him the issues and write a statement out for him.
"I don't think he has to say too much but just a couple of sentences of support and acknowledging the fact that not everyone is safe in this country that we're playing this world event at.
"Then a show of support for people back home in England and what that would mean for him to speak out in support of all the LGBTQ people back in England. I think that would make a big, big, big impact. I don't think it's a huge ask either because he's still able to perform on the field."
FIFA's role at the World Cup has also come under scrutiny, with fans seeing clothing with rainbows on confiscated, in addition to the One Love armband farce. Martin believes that the individual associations now need to stand up to FIFA to put them back on the right path.
"The disappointing thing for me has been the lack of interest on FIFA's part in trying to be part of that progress. The beauty of the World Cup and the beauty of what this game can speak to is the fact that we can hope to have progress and advance certain issues in these countries," he said.
"That's where I think we've missed an opportunity so far with this World Cup in Qatar, is genuinely having real conversations and actually trying to implement real change in this country.
"It seems as if FIFA's just interested in glossing over these aspects of the tournament and just catering to the Qatari's interest in just strictly being about football. At this point, on the national level, it's more important because FIFA's not going to make a stand in any way.
"Obviously they're rewarding countries that would just straight up jail gay people for being who they are. It has to be up to the national governing bodies and the leagues. I think the progress is going to have to to start there."
Martin had been considering attending the tournament to help raise awareness of the dreadful reality of life for LGBT+ people living in Qatar. But the American has now conceded that he is "glad" that did not happen as he raised concerns for closeted LGBT+ people watching from home.
"There's complicated feelings around it. I'm watching the World Cup still, I'm not boycotting it. I would have been interested in going and trying to be a part of the conversation and to help in a healthy way and show my visibility," he said.
"Obviously that didn't happen and probably for good, I'm glad I'm not there. It's clear that the governing bodies really don't have an interest at this point of actually trying to advance progress for the LGBTQ community. To me, that's pretty disconcerting.
"The biggest impact is youth players looking at this World Cup and saying 'how are teams supporting, how's the biggest governing body of the sport trying to support the LGBTQ community?'
"I know that if I was 12 years old, 13 years old and I was seeing this all go down, I would still be thinking 'wow, this is not a place for me, I'm going to have to do everything I can to show I'm a really good footballer and neglect my sexuality in order to become a professional'."
Collin Martin, San Diego Loyal soccer player, who came out as gay in 2018, has partnered with BonusFinder and LGBT HERO to understand representation and attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community in US professional team sports.
