Day 19: where would a team of Alfie Potts Harmer lookalikes finish in the premier league?

You’re a top man Alfie, absolute class.

The fact I hadn’t even heard of the Clough story shows that it’s a huge problem. If he said something as bad as that about the colour of his skin people would still bring it up today regularly talking about him. But no. Something like that is disgusting and a manager I used to like and respect has lost a lot of respect

I was afraid to scroll down the comments, but most I see is supportive and thankfulness, which makes me happy. Great video!

Nothing but RESPECT to you! This is brave and football, and this channel, will always be better without violent bigots.

As a Norwich fan the Justin Fashnu story saddens me. We need to do better.

I’ve always been in the so what catergory, as I don’t care who a player chooses to spend their time with outside of the game, wheather that be male or female. But in 2021 the fact that these young men don’t feel they can be true to themselves is a complete and utter failure from top to bottom in the game and one we should all be ashamed about.

I‘m usually a more silent viewer but I have to say, this is an outstanding video. I could hear how truly you care about these issues being resolved and how disgusted you are by the state of society in 2021. Love your work, keep it up!

Being Bisexual and a huge fan of this channel, I can not express enough how important and amazing this video is, another masterclass by Alfie, thank you!

Hitc sevens is hands down the best football channel on KZfaq

I, a guy, came out of the closet as gay in my youth amateur team when I was 15 and my team mates were so cool and supportive. It's one of my dearest memories. But I don't know if I would have done it if it potentially threatened a promising career.

I'm a 15-year-old youth footballer from Hong Kong, and I’d like to share a story about my own experience playing football whilst being a member of the LGBT community, hopefully to raise some awareness about the discrimination that we, as normal members of society, go through in the footballing world; in times where racism against footballers is publicly criticized, there seems to be no progress whatsoever towards solving the issue of discrimination against sexuality. So here’s my story. Having been an avid fan of football since childhood, I had always aspired to play the beautiful game at a competitive level; that opportunity arrived in 2020, when I was selected by a side (I’m not going to specify which one for privacy reasons, but it’s a famous one here where I live) in the Hong Kong youth football league to play for them. Prior to this selection, I had been diagnosed with clinical depression and had attempted suicide on multiple occasions - likely repercussions of the unexpected direness of the pandemic. Fortunately, I was able to rediscover my passion for football after joining said team and playing competitively, and my rapid integration into the team significantly alleviated my illness and brought a stop to my self-harming activities. Within the span of a season, I had acquainted myself with my teammates and coaches, as football became the most important and inseparable part of my life; I was also lucky enough to be given the captaincy of the team, which I truly treasured. Due to the tight-knit nature of the team, us teammates came out for football and socialization in general almost everyday, integrating into my daily routine; that was until the end of last year, when some of my teammates found out about my sexuality. It was then onwards that every one of them started different forms of discrimination towards me. I was instantly ostracized from socialization, as I was no longer allowed to play football and socialize with them in private; during training, I was purposefully ignored and ostracized in a similar fashion, and with all forms of interaction coming to a halt, I no longer felt like part of the team - in fact, I no longer wanted to play, watch or even hear about football, due to the incredible amount of trauma I feel everytime football was being mentioned. All of the above were the most sudden and forceful impacts that a young and aspiring footballer, previously willing to devote their life towards the game and being welcomed in a core part of a top-level team, could possibly endure; it should come as no surprise then, that such a one-eighty would leave long-lasting damage towards the perception of football per se. As the current season came to a halt due to the situation of the pandemic here in Hong Kong, I could no longer bear the thought that everyone else was training in private without me being welcome, and with the lost form and lost passion for football amassing, I decided to quit football for good. So there goes another potentially promising career, and perhaps another potentially promising life, given the already existing severity of my clinical depression and suicidal sentiments. I’m sure that I’m not the only one out there in the footballing world that has suffered similar experiences and trauma, due to our sexuality which we have no control over - no different to our race. The footballing community is simply too hostile for members of the LGBT community to participate in the beautiful game without experiencing these painful repercussions. When a player is racially abused on social media, all prominent pages are quick to come to criticize the discriminators, which is why awareness and progress towards this issue is being made; however, I have never seen the same occur on these pages, when anti-LGBT remarks flood the comment sections whenever any awareness is trying to be raised - be it Germany’s decision to display the pride color on the surface of the Allianz Arena the previous Euro campaign (which UEFA banned!) or Josh Cavallo, who had become the first professional player to come out of the closet just last year. The suicide of former England international Justin Fashanu and the decision for former Botafogo player Douglas Braga to quit football at the age of 21, both members of the LGBT community, just further proves the point that it is simply not possible to be gay and play football at the same time. And would they be to any extent wrong, when we look at the aforementioned discrimination that is still as rampant in 2022? I’m by no means as experienced about how the world and how society functions as these aforementioned individuals; I’m still 15, after all. But does any teenager deserve this kind of discrimination and abuse, so much as to being forced to quit football at such a ridiculously young age? As we strive together to solve the problem of racism in football, it’s sadly too often overlooked how hostile the public view in the footballing world is towards LGBT, an issue that is far more enrooted in the moral values of the footballing world but somehow with far less action having been taken. I write to you today in hopes of letting the football community know, no matter how negligibly, what we - as members of the footballing world, no different from the people reading this right now - are going through, and how desperately so many people are waiting for any speck of action to be taken, just to once again enjoy the beautiful game without knowing that their identity simply will not allow them in this all-encompassing community. I sincerely hope that you will read this and spare a thought for us people out there in the football community; as such, I implore that you share this on social media, in one way or another, for the world to see. I, as is the case of many many more people out there, want to again set foot on the grass pitches that we all long for - but know that we simply do not have a place in. Sincerely, Just another one of the many football-crazed boys in this community

If this was on Twitter I’m sure you’d see lots of gifs of Vardy destroying the corner flag.

When I was a kid there was a brazilian star that was bi His name was richarlysson He was an agressive def midfielder famous for being tough and getting booked constantly He completed club football in south america, winning the club world cup, libertadores, 4 league titles and everything else here being awarded the silver ball as the second best player on the brazileirao and geting some internacional caps He never came out bi while playing but everybody knew and everybody hated him for it He was the butt of the joke in brazil for decades, everywhere he went he would hear homofobic offenses, after all, we are the reason players can pick any shirt number in south american competitions since no player would wear the number 24 (the gay number) We are the number 1 in lgbt people being killed for being gay, I saw gay kids getting beaten when trying to play football with the other kids since gays should play volei And lesbian woman play football Well Thank you richarlysson, from a Bi Def Mid that watched you being world class while hearing tens of thousands screaming bich* e Viad* every time you touch the ball and decided you were the kind of warrior I would like to be

I still find it perplexing that people care so deeply about other people's love lives

The abuse of Billy Gilmour made me, as a Liverpool fan (whose oldest son is gay), want to cry. The response from the club and the majority of fans online was heartening, but the fact that it happened at all speaks volumes about the reason that no current senior male footballer has yet come out.

Collin Martin came out as an active player in MLS and is still playing in USL

It’s a basic human right and in no way political, glad you made this video Alfie. It’s important to speak up and call out the racists and homophobes. We need to make football a safer space for the LGBT community.

Utterly marvellous video. And a quick scroll through the comments section shows why videos like this are so badly needed. Your content just gets better and better, mate. It’s one of the best channels on KZfaq.

I play for an LGBT friendly football team in Exeter. I remember we had an article about us on BBC Sport and some of the comments were disgusting. Ranging from "It's not a big deal, why are they making it a big deal?" To "These f**** should be killed!" It was certainly a lesson in how varied homophobia can be. It's nice to see essays from people like you addressing the reasons why football still has this problem and how it can go forward. Thanks Alfie, you're a top bloke!

really big up to you Alfie. Knew that this was a massive problem but had never heard abut the Fashanu story. It is just shocking. Please carry on doing these kind of videos i presume that many people will find this eye opening

i wished for someone to release such a video forever, and there couldn't have been a better person to do so. it takes courage to do this knowing how this topic goes down in the football community.

I'm a lesbian who is into football (both the men's and women's game) so thank you very much for this video - all your videos are really informative and well-researched but I enjoyed this one especially. :))

Hopefully once one player decides it’s right for them to openly come out we’ll see a breaking of the dam effect and more will follow. The only worry would be if there’s substantial push back against the first player others decide not to follow, but we can only hope for the best outcome

Hmmm what a lovely HITC Sevens video, I'm sure there will be no hateful comments. Anyways great work as always, absolute class from the people's channel.

Considering how difficult it is even to be a black football player online, being a gay footballer is even scarier as you will be unable to play in certain places like the Qatar world cup. The gay footballer with ambition does not come out because they know being who they are is something that will unfortunately hinder their career.

Issues like this make me proud to be a Brighton fan, I've been to every home game since 2012 and never heard a homophobic or racist chant from our fans, football should be for everyone, no matter their race, gender or sexuality.

I am really thankful that you have made this video, Alfie. I am straight and I feel sorry for the people in the LGBT communiteit who cannot enjoy the beautiful game just because of the amount of hate towards them. Let's hope everything becomes better for them and I just want to wish any gay gay footballer a big hug and strength in these times.

About 6 months ago, there was a suggestion in my youtube about a video on the some of the best 7 players in football, by HITC sevens. I thought I'd just give it a try and the rambling took me to the end of the video. Since then, I have regularly come to see your videos, but never thought about subscribing (as generally I don't subscribe, unless you are a friend and need something to keep you motivated). Then, slowly I started looking for your documentaries, especially for some plain facts that you put out there. But, this is the video, where you have got yourself a subscriber... Just a couple of words for you, Absolutely Brilliant. More power to you...

The worst thing that gets me about these "fans" is you want your team to win, so technically that player isn't *100%* if they have to hide their true selves. So you're only hurting yourself 🙄

Just saw the interview with Klopp who's criticised the fans for chanting rent boys at the Norwich game. As a long term Liverpool fan I'm embarrassed to the core that rants are still abusive rather than funny in nature in 2021.

It's sad watching the brief section on Jordan Henderson and his messages of support for the LGBT+ community. His move to Saudi doesn't sit alongside those actions. It may not be surprising, but it's still extremely disappointing.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, thank you so much for making this video. The culture around non-straightness in football is incredibly toxic and sadly it doesn’t seem like it’s changing soon. FIFA and UEFA clearly don’t care, especially with the WC being in Qatar.

Bit of a random one but saw your dad at Hull City last night didn't think he'd appreciate me going up to him and saying your HITC 7s dad though

This video was excellent and so informative! I’m so glad you made it and that I was able to watch. Keep doing what you’re doing, it’s so important.

Collin Martin came out in 2018 when he was playing for Minnesota United in the MLS. It was awesome

I have a feeling players might "come out" or just be open with their sexuality after the Qatar World Cup.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO ALFIE! I'm going to be disappointed in humanity if I see some hate comments here or calling basic human rights "Politics". People shouldn't care about other people's sexuality.

You're a real one Alfie and I'd love if there could be podcast versions or podcasts with different topics entirely. That would be so nice.

Full respect for you! Top class video and something that needs to be said! Meant a lot to me and to hear your true passion about this subject was so refreshing to hear

I always enjoy your videos so much. I have to thank you for discussing women’s football and taking it seriously.

Hi Alfie! Openly gay football-fan here! I've been watching your videos for quite some time, and overtime I've grown to really like your videos. From the top 7-lists to all the crazy stories about corrupt leagues or hooligan-clubs, your channel just gets more and more interesting! But this video was something truly special. Last week a football-club from my home city of Gothenburg, one of the biggest and most traditional clubs in Sweden, made a LGBT-manifestation before a match. Being that this is the club I root for here in Sweden (I also root for Leeds United in England!) it made me happy and more proud of the club! However... everybody else was more "so what", and not for the right reasons so to say. Thats why I really liked seeing you make a video on this subject, and you made it GREAT!! Well-researched, very informative, and I can hear that you mean every word you say! You've gained a new subscriber in me. Not only are you by far the best football-channel on KZfaq, but one of the best KZfaq-channels in general! Keep up the good work Alfie! Greetings from Sweden!!

its true i think, on instagram anti racist football posts will be flooded with people saying "say no to racism", but football posts about lgbtq issues will be flooded with homophobia in the comments. I dont get it

Really loved this video. I'd never heard Justin Fashanu's tragic story before. So fucking sad. I've just bought the Norwich City 1978 Admiral Retro jersey because of this video and will wear it with Pride. (Liverpool fan) Thanks for making this xx

Look at toxic social media communities, they would get abused like hell

I really am not looking forward to these comments. But good video Alfie, talked about a very nuanced topic well. I am really not sure how it will play out in 10 or 20 years.

Spectacular video! These are types of videos that make me love this channel. If we love football as much as we say we do then it would behoove us to make it a more welcoming sport for all so that they in turn can find joy and come to love the sport as well.

When I was at school, a friend said that a Portsmouth (my team) player was gay - there had been chants about him in some premier League stands. I argued he wasn't as he was married to which he said 'Do you have a problem with him being gay?' What I had a problem with was homophobic abuse being directed at anyone, whether he was gay or not. Nearly 20 years later, homophobic chants are still present in Premier League stands.

This is a great video, Alfie. I hadn't heard about Justin Fasanu before and his story was a gut punch. I buried my face in my hands after hearing Clough's comments, absolutely disgusting. There's a lot of work to do regarding homophobia and racism in football and, of course, a lot of it has to do with society. Progress is being made, but we're nowhere near "ideal". Great video as always!

I’m an openly gay referee in my local association, and it honestly shocks me how much players say homophobic stuff in game, I’ve had to send players off for it before - and they look at me like I’ve just spoke a different language. We’re doing the right things but we’re so far away from perfect still.

Top notch video Alfie, this subject shouldnt have to be but sadly is a sensitive issue and you tackled it brilliantly. Idea for a 7s list, players who have left "big" clubs for "smaller" ones and enjoyed more success as in trophies or higher league position.

Always enjoyed your channel and now I have a tremendous amount of respect for you as a person. Great video

Anton Hysen, son of swedish legendary footballer Glenn Hysen (PSV, Fiorentina and Liverpool), made a big splash by coming out very early in his career. He does not play on a very high level (mostly moving in the swedish third and fourth tier in his career so far), but the story got national coverage here in sweden due to his father's fame and his older brother being one of the best known players in our national top tier.

This video meant a lot to me, thanks for making this.

Thank you Alfie for shedding light on this issue! ❤️

What a Great Video! There are HUGE issues in football so thank you for talking about them!

I really hope that we will reach a point in the near future where a footballer doesn't get judged for who they love.

Fantastic job Alfie, I'm happy that you have shone some light on the issue. 👏🏽

Love your stuff mate. Keep up the excellent work.

I very rarely comment on videos but this was excellent, really well spoken!

its honestly so refreshing seeing pro-lgbtq content surrounding football. I'm a member of the community as well as being a football fan and the amount of people ive met through football that i later have to disown because of their homophobia is outrageous

Hey thanks for doing this video Alfie, means a lot to me and doubtlessly other LGBT+ fans of yours

Hey Alfie I recommended a documentary about gay footballers not long ago in one of your other videos and specifically pointing about Justin Fashanu and I gotta say I'm really glad that you did this video and the passion you put in it. You're a great and proper lad.

This is so good to see but as someone who has worked in football it makes me sad given the struggles I have seen a few players/friends go through as they've started their careers out.. And part of me wonders if they would be at the level they were at now if they had disclosed it. I myself didn't disclose it while I was working out of fear of being treated differently. I think that if I were to put it simply.. There is this feeling of the negatives outweighing the positives and the pressure that comes with it as well. It may or may not be a correct feeling, but it's something that can be a real hurdle when considering saying something. Personally in my part of the world, I've seen a lot of change, but there is still a lot that needs to be done.

Remember when people thought Ronaldo was gay because he took a picture with a guy

I'd never before heard of Justin Fashanu before but that story was absolutely heartbreaking and is a testament to the problems in the game that we still have to this day. Rest in peace Justin ♥️

This is so cool. Love love love this channel you do such a good job of tackling these issues in such an earnest manor. This is a first time comment for me on this channel Edit: I wish you in the comments all the best. It's so hard and heartbraking reading all of these and shows why this video is very much needed

Alfie you really smashed it with this one

I honestly think the problem is that there would be the 'first gay footballer' and that one person would have so much attention on them that it would all be too much. This issue has been politicised so much by both sides of the spectrum that a player could never just be gay they'd be THE gay and that would be all that defined them, the same way certain parts of the media talked about the black players in the England squad. Once that person is 'the gay footballer' everything that happens regarding them is politicised, when they're not selected the manager is called homophobic, if they're transfer listed there's a massive debate about why or who will accept them, even though they'd likely be treated no different from anyone else by the clubs involved. The whole thing sounds like hell to me and from my experience most footballers just want to play football, which would be almost impossible with that shit storm flying around them all the time.

"football is not actually, as FIFA so often likes to claim, for everyone" this is the simple yet brutal truth

Good on you Alfie, an issue that needs to be talked about more for certain

This really was an excellent upload, Alfie.

‘it’s political keep it out of football’ it’s a basic human right mate 😭

Alfie. Thank you for making this. Im a Trans woman who is Pan-sexual and a life long football fan... There was time when due to being trans and my sexuality I stepped back form Football. However In recent years partly because I love the sport and seeing little changes like the increase in popularity of the woman's game (And how accepted sexuality is there) and the black lives matter movement in the men's game I’ve became more interested in it and following it more. I've even found a team locally that are happy for me to play in the Woman's team. Its thorough well written and well-structured videos such as this and positive discourse that we can achieve or at the very least makes steps towards the game being "for everyone" as it claims to be now. Once again many thanks.

Great video. Very respectful and hopefully gets people thinking. Well done.

I subbed after watching this video. Keep up the great work

As an openly bisexual man, I’ve never “came out” to anyone really. I don’t think we have to.

Great, extremely important and informational video! Idea for another: Top 7 domino transfer sagas

This was excellently done, thank you

Nowt but respect - as a steward who's heard homophobic abuse at matches (both aimed at players, and at myself when I've challenged people on it/had them ejected) - I can certainly confirm it's a massive issue, and what you say about nobody challenging them on it certainly rings true, having some what we believe to be, new fans come to one of the clubs I work for yelling the abuse (who we are unfortunately unable to pinpoint yet, still working on that), but when they're found they'll be out and likely banned. It should come of some comfort to people that the clubs make no delay when it comes to ousting the people who consider it acceptable to use homophobic (or other offensive shouts - but that's a different matter) language. Quality video, Alfie

Thank you Alfie for the best single form of media on the topic, handled exceptionally well, fuck a drop in subs, you’ve got us, THE GAYS we’ve been here forever and every word you said made perfect sense to everyone one of us well done 👍🏳️‍🌈👍

This is a whole reason I’m nervous going to football matches. During these times I want to go, I have to be someone else as Ik how hated lgbtq people are in football, players or fans. Back last year I saw a video with Tom Allen and mcadam with the pride of irons (West Ham’s lgbtq supporters group) and it opened my eyes how there can be a family in football there for you

Nice to see that in the 2 months that this was posted we have made a little bit of progress

great video alf! video suggestion thooooo seven notorious transfer hijacks?

Listening to the intro, I think it would have a huge influence on a young boy (or girl) struggling with their sexuality if they saw their favourite footballer come out as being gay or bisexual. They would not only be an inspiration for them but also be a major motivation for those young boys (or girls) if they decided to become a footballer

There is one openly gay player I know of in the USL Championship by the name of Collin Martin, who was actually called a homophobic slur by a player on the other team (junior flemmings) during a match. Heartbreaking story if you read up on it.

really important video this mate! Great work

I'm glad you showed pics of Robbie Rogers because his was what cought my attention to this issue. I would have liked for you to touch on his situation a bit but I completely understand

Hey Alfie, been a big fan for a while now and have loved the content. This video is by far the best you've ever made, as a bi-sexual football fan myself I quite often find myself being the sole voice shouting at the ridiculous things you mention such as Qatar and Russia being allowed to host the World Cup and everyone just thinking that it doesn't really matter, thank you for illustrating better than I ever could how impactful these things are and I will be using this video to direct people in the future. Absolute legend!

As a youth football player, I can confirm a high level of putting certain behaviors down as "gay" in the squad. That being said, this was early 2000's, and I'm hoping things have changed since my days ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽

Such a great vid man, keep it up

I thoroughly enjoy your more simple ‘top 7’ lists, as well as the deep-dives, but this video stands out as one of your best in a while. Great job!

Short Answer- Too many homophobes.

What a brilliant video mate - you are clearly a really deeply principled person, and I hope you didn't lose too many subscribers as a result of posting it. You're spot on in what you say about gay people being driven from the game at a young age - I used to love playing football as a kid, but after being outed against my will at high school, I started to have the sh1t kicked out of me during games as well as being verbally bullied by my peers in the changing rooms. I never stopped watching the game, but I had to give up actually playing it for my own sanity (I channelled all of my efforts into playing Championship Manager instead, and ended up becoming multiple Premier League & European champions with my Rushden & Diamonds team!) I bet there are thousands of people like me who would have carried on playing if they had been supported more as kids. Anyway, thanks again for posting it - I love your videos, but this was definitely one of your best!

Great video man, the least we all can do is like the video to share the message as it's a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention

There are a few, but most of them are not on the Europan radar. Some of them come out after retiring, like Thomas Hitzlsperger, but most of them are just afraid. You would be too if you would constantly have to be worried about getting beaten up or even worse.

As a Bi-guy, this is why I'm disappointed in how FIFA let Qatar host the WC, because had it been that I or anybody like me was to attended games either as a spectator or a player. "Avoiding any sexual activity" wouldn't stop attacks by homophobes who don't care whether you've had any there or not. A lot of the LGBTQ+ people I've met aren't as football or hip-hop mad as me for this exact reason, and a lot of people that I know who are passionate about those activities are either homophobic or never give supportive/positive opinions when LGBT issues are discussed. Me that has grown up around these activities and can't imagine life with them, I feel stuck in the middle of it all finding it hard to choose a side. It even makes life more complicated when you consider that I'm African-born. That's one thing I envy about MLS/American soccer and its supporters, in almost every game you see LGBTQ+ flags being waved around, there was even a time when Landon Donovan who became a coach of a team in some lower-level American league got his players to walk off the pitch when someone said something homophobic. As much as I prefer European football for the quality, it's more common to hear homophobic chants than it is to see that, let alone outside Western Europe. That's why when people say "Oh, (random person) came out, so what?", you can't tell whether they're really homophobic or they're really ignorant of how much of a big step that is in an environment where homophobia still needs to be eliminated/penalised more severely than it is.

beautiful video, an nfl player carl nassib came out a few months ago and the respect and acceptance of him by teammates and media was amazing i hope the same thing can happen if any footballer opens up and leads the way for more people to truly express themselves

The passion you show for football is amazing 👍

Great video Alfie, I have so much respect for you raising this issue. Keep up the good work. Love from Hungary 🇭🇺 🏳️‍🌈👍