FC Barcelona in multi-sport day against LGTBI-phobia in sport

In its ongoing work to combat homophobia and discrimination and promote gender equality, as established in its Statutes, FC Barcelona will be holding a sports day next Sunday 26 February, as part of the International Day Against LGTBI-phobia in Sport.

The Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper will be the venue for a meeting of teams from the non-profit LGTBIQ+ multi-sports association Panteres Grogues will face players from the FC Barcelona Players Association and basketball and handball veterans.

All the details

The day will begin at 11am and will consist of three matches, which will be played simultaneously at 12pm in different parts of the training facility. Pitch 9 will be transformed into a 7-1-side football field for a friendly between members of the FC Barcelona Players Group and the Panteres Grogues football team. Meanwhile, Barça's basketball and handball veterans will play the Panteres Grogues in their respective pavilions.

The day will be attended by Vice President Elena Fort on behalf of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors and the President of the FC Barcelona Players Association Juan Manuel Asensi, as well as Joan Miró, President of Panteres Grogues. These personalities, along with representatives of handball and basketball veterans, will also be attending today's game with Cádiz at Spotify Camp Nou, where they will be introduced to the president and other members of the Board of Directors.

Both parties are very satisfied with the excellent response both among the FC Barcelona Players Association, and among the basketball and handball veterans, who are proud to be able to do their bit in support the LGTBIQ+ collective in the fight for the right to enjoy sports free from any type of discrimination.

More and more athletes are joining the campaign against homophobia, taking advantage of influential role to reach a large part of society. A clear example is Jakub Jankto, a Czech player on loan from Getafe to Sparta Prague, who a few days ago announced his homosexuality on social networks. That makes him the very first footballer to have played in the Spanish Liga to openly admit that he is homosexual, and FC Barcelona has declared its support for him.

The FC Barcelona Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is promoting this event and wanted to do so in association with Panteres Grogues, as part of their shared commitment to battling homophobia and discrimination for reasons of sexual orientation in sport and in society. This follows on from an agreement signed by Barça and the Panteres Grogues last year.

Sport for social normalisation

Last 18 February 2022, FC Barcelona and Panteres Grogues signed a collaboration agreement that laid the foundations for cooperation between both entities. The club has focused its interest on education and counselling on the diversity of gender, identity and sexual orientation, as well as the fight against LGTBI-phobia in the world of sport, as established in its Statutes.

Activities that have already happened as a result of this agreement have been, for example, talks on sport and LGTBI+ people given by Joan Miró, president of Panteres Grogues, in auditorium at La Masia. The objective of these talks, which took place within the framework of European Diversity Month last May 2022, was to present an overview of this community and raise awareness among the handball, basketball, roller hockey and futsal coaches, as well as teachers at La Masia.

February 19 in memory of Fashanu

On February 19, the International Day against Homophobia in Sport is being commemorated in memory of Justin Fashanu, the first football player to publicly declare his homosexuality in 1990. Fashanu was born on 19 February 1961. The Englishman, best known for his spells and Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, suffered rejection and discrimination because of his sexual orientation and ended up committing suicide at the age of 37 after being accused of sexual abuse by a teenager, although the police had abandoned the case for lack of evidence. His legacy is the Justin Fashanu Foundation, which fights against homophobia, racism and mental health problems among footballers.