French Football's Homophobia Crisis 

Next you could cover spanish football's racism crisis. It has come back to the spotlight due to the racial insults against Vinicius but it's no novelty. Just a bit over a decade ago fans legitimally threw bananas at players like Dani Alves when they went for corner kicks. I'd say it's one of spanish football's biggest issues, probably only behind the ridiculous amount of corruption in league ownership and the federation

Could you maybe cover the recent surge in hooliganism in dutch football? Groningen is basically controlled by the ultras these days

I absolutely love it when someone can shift my perspective so effectively with one argument. Really well constructed and thought out. I appreciate the time and effort you have put into this.

Plays for Everton suggesting he doesn’t mind being sodomised on a weekly basis is one of the best quotes this channel has come out with

I used to put the LGBTQ flag in my Twitter bio to show I’m an openly gay football fan. I can’t tell you how many times I got attacked by people for that. I hate football’s relationship with homophobia. It honestly breaks my heart

I've had lots of football fans tell me that racism is worse than any other prejudice and that the other prejudices should be ignored. All prejudice in the game needs to be addressed

not part of the lgbtq community myself but i appreciate you, a big youtuber in the football community, constantly calling out homophobes, because the football fan community is brimming with them and it's incredibly dumb. thanks alfie.

i am 100% uneffected by the phobias you touched on in this video but You have brightened my day just by making this compassionate case for our lgbtq friends. Thank You!

Alfie, honestly, this is why we come here, no bullshit trying to appease everyone, you do your work, you use journalistic facts when you need to, you clearly separate them from your opinions and when you give your opinions you make them heard Screw homophobia, period

'maybe he's really bad at budgeting' while his Villa shirt contains the Quickbooks sponsor is one of your most sublime moments yet, ngl

Since Homophobia is still such a big issue in world football, it is quite remarkable that you stand so clearly as an ally, aswell as basically educating ont this topic. Hats off for giving your voice to those, who still suffer from discrimination.

I'm not sure if you'll see this, Alfie, but I'm a queer woman. Despite loving your content I fear watching this video might end up just upsetting me due to the circumstances through no fault of your own. I just wanted to say that youre probably the only football channel that hasn't ever made me feel bad for being a woman or for being gay. I thank you for that, truly.

Betclic is the exclusive sponsor of the French Cup and a team in every match must wear it as the shirt sponsor. Toulouse’s shirt sponsor in league matches is a real estate developer. Zakaria Aboukhlal could have upheld his belief against gambling by refusing to play in the French cup to promote the betting sponsor. So to people on your twitter who claim that he couldn’t choose Toulouse’s sponsor and had no choice in wearing it, he did and could have refused then.

You're doing a world class reporting that is better than most main stream media. Much respect

Well done Alfie, eloquently written and props to you for being an ally as well as an advocate for more conversation.

I don't often comment on videos but I just wanted to say thank you, Alfie, for always going above and beyond on this topic. It can be a disheartening space to be involved in for LGBTQ+ football fans and it means a lot to have a content creator go beyond the bare minimum of allyship!

All of the anti gay rhetoric spouted in the comments on posts about Gueye and the Qatar world cup over the last couple of years have really made me lose my love for football. I appreciate you making a video like this Alfie although I know for a fact most homophobes don't listen to logic.

“I want you to respect my belief that you’re sub human, will burn in hell and shouldn’t live” religion is wild man.

this channel is my save haven. being a bisexual football fan it is pretty tiring seeing constant anti-lgbtq or even other forms of bigotry and hatred within the online community. love that there are football fans that do advocate for basic human rights, even if it’s a minority (which is scary)

Impressive how these players managed to post such long statements about how they wanted their own personal beliefs to be respected without stating what, exactly, those personal beliefs are. Almost like they know that those personal beliefs would be obviously and blatantly homophobic if they said them outright. Top work as always Alfie.

As a Lesbian in our community you bring me such a breathe of fresh air there can be so much hatred in the footballing community which hurts because football means so much to me but your channel is always a safe space thank you for all the fantastic work you do

Thank you for picking up this topic. As a queer woman in football spaces it is great to hear a straight man take the work upon themselves to speak about problems and educate others. Great and responsible use of your platform.

Unfortunate but extremely necessary video, thanks Alfie, let's kick bigotry out of football

It’s a sad reality that football is pretty far behind the times in terms of social acceptance. Racism is still rampant (Vinicius Junior is probably the biggest example right now but definitely not the only one), homophobia is even more rampant (just ask yourself how many players have come out of the closet the way Jakub Jankto or Thomas Hitzlsperger did and even those two have faced a lot of backlash) and we don’t do anything about it just because clubs don’t want to lose the support of said racist/homophobic fans. Brilliant video Alfie as per usual. It’s amazing how you have been able to put out amazing content on a consistent basis for the last 6 years.

"you should respect my disrespect"

I'm trans ftm and my bf is trans ftm. Glad to have an ally, was very respectful in this video and agree with everything you said. I do not understand the hate for anybody honestly. Aslong as you respect me, I'll respect you back and that's how it should be but unfortunately it's not which is why these things need to be talked about.

Thank you as always Alfie. I first became interested in the beautiful game in high school as I grew into myself. I have a background in American football, played it for years, but reached a turning point in my late teens as I just couldn’t take the constant homophobia, racism, and bullying associated with American football culture. Within American football culture, association football is often seen as “gay” or effeminate, and often referred to in homophobic terms. So naturally, I gravitated more towards it as I moved further away from the sport that didn’t accept me. I saw supporters like the Portland Timbers army and St.Pauli ultras and countless others waving rainbow flags, singing Bella Ciao, being intimidating and accepting at the same time. I found a sporting culture that actually felt more open to someone like me and many of the people I love. Many years later, it’s quite ironic to look back on my younger self, believing that global football would be a less homophobic place than the American football I was raised around. At the end of the day, I fell in love with the beautiful game and will likely never fall out of love with it, but the culture around it must be improved. We need to keep fighting for a better future for football, one in which homophobia, racism, misogyny, and all forms of discrimination are not tolerated. Thanks for being a leader in that fight Alfie. Your impact is real, and your words are valued by many of us.

Alfie absolutely nails it again. Love the compassion and willingness to confront prejudice in others.

Thank you again Alfie, not mincing any words here, truly a breath of fresh air 👏 fuck homophobia, racism and any form of bigotry 🖕

Alfie, thank you for videos like this, you give me hope for the world ❤

The # being WeAreAllIdrissa is so funny because WeAreAllGueye would be absolutely hilarious in the most ironic of ways

And Spain has a racism crisis. Crazy times

The way this channel walks the line on social issues is amazing respecting both parties decisions while clearly expressing your views in a respectful matter. Not being battered down or spoken down too is what you do best and connecting soccer to it as its core tissue is perfect. Soccer is a global affair and the beautiful games connection to culture is a part of that, thank you for making great content related to the great sport your the best.

Your videos are always very well researched & informative, but what makes them so good is how you use humor and sarcasm on the main points you make. I hope everyone catches all of it, when some are referring to something else that may not be known to everyone. Your Bud Light Reference for example, being about a commercial they made.

Keep up the good work on the tough topics! The best football page on RU-vid easily. 💪🏽

On the flip side, I have a lot of respect for the muslim players who DIDN'T boycott. It's a very low bar, but I'm glad it was cleared

Thank you for always speaking up about these issues. It means so much when so much of the football discussion online is laced with homophobia or homophobia apologia

Been watching/listening to you for years and due to being trans, I always slightly fear what youtubers/artists would think about me, due to being met with quiete a bit of discrimantion from strangers. I'm over the moon happy, after this video & I don't see any other football-youtuber speaking about these lgbtq+ rights or even acknowladging that this is happening. Thank you so much! ♡

Your knowledge of football, society and ability to understand everyone’s point whilst also sticking to your morales in your opinion. Makes this the greatest football RU-vid account.

As usual, very high quality. Thank you for being constructive as always!

French football ?? Literally every player that refused to wear the LGBT shirt is not French lmao

My religion is very important for me. Except if I earn money promoting something that's against it.

Thank you for an excellent video, which was well explained and with a light touch. I still remember the suicide of Justin Fashanu in an era of football that was even more bigoted and hostile to gays.

"I respect gay people, but my beliefs keep me from supporting their movement" And what belief could that be, other than homophobia ? Doesnt make any sense

Why did you diss Gueye? It’s was absolutely unnecessary

Hello! Are you gonna make a video about stampedes I football. Just over the weekend 12 people were in quater final match in El Salvador.

I strive to treat people with respect, even those I strongly disagree with. However, I feel no obligation to respect the unjustified beliefs of others. You are free to believe stupid things, and I am free to analyze and criticize your stupid beliefs.

isn't it ironic that he's called gueye?

Oh man, that Everton reference got me bro 😂😂😂😂😂

If participation in a movement is mandatory, does that affect anything or not?

Hey Alfie why are your videos coming out after three days rather than a day after as it used to be ?

I think the huge issue in France, and really in the UK too in terms of the pro-LGBT things in football, it comes off as extremely tone deaf since most of the ownership groups are from Saudi Arabia, Qatar or UAE, in all three nations gay relationships are illegal, and in Saudi Arabia it could get you thrown off a building.

As a queer football fan, it couldn't be more obvious to me that all these awareness campaigns were designed by heterosexual cisgender people. I am totally in favour of awareness campaigns, but they shouldn't be designed in a way that allows homophobes to hijack the entire thing. Campaigns that force everyone to participate only serve to give a platform to homophobia, which only makes me feel less safe if anything. Besides, the point shouldn't be to convert the person wearing the mandated rainbow colours to a life of love and acceptance, it should be to foster a gradual change in football culture; one that goes beyond the 22 on the field. My personal approach would be to specifically identify players and managers at each club who genuinely want to make a statement against homophobia. This way, players who don't want to participate in it don't get to claim they're being forced to comply and the focus will be on the actual role models instead.

Comments about to be a mess on this one! But needs to be done, big up Alfie.

This video was brought to you by Open Society foundation

When freespeech and freedom of religion gets deleted:

easily the best football channel out

What is wrong with that? If that’s your life don’t force it on me,that’s damn bullying

Are the players who did not take a knee racist?

Frankly I think this is brilliant and really well put together.

I think at the end of the day you can't force anyone to be an ally. I don't think a player should be fined for their beliefs as long they enact them in the privacy of their own home and space. Because when someone is on the complete opposite side of your social issue the best you can get is tolerance or indifference.

As an Asexual man I’m used to being erased 😂 love you brother. This video is so good.

6:21 in the video - A GENUINE LOL moment. Brilliant Alfie, as always

WHAT is the background music name??

Can someone explain to me why being gay is bad? Like I literally cannot see the problem with it

Great Vid! Its just a thing on a shirt, absolutely killed me.

I love you. 😂 that intro warning was peak.

You are an absolute legend! Thank you for this video!!

Got so much respect for how you use your platform. Its incredibly refreshing to hear a football RU-vid actually address social and economic issues regularly instead of pretending they don't exist within the game. Been watching every video for years and only just clocked im not subbed, quickly changed that.

Alfie, you should do a series of videos that looks at the best football player born on each day of the year broken up into 12 videos one for each month. You could release the videos over an entire year with videos releasing on the first of their respective months to spread the videos out as well

For some reason, people seem to think or pretend to think as a deflection, that if you are against homophobia, then you are promoting gay people or are gay yourself.

6:18 outstanding analysis Alfie, thank you. I spit water on my keyboard.

I think your comparison to somebody boycotting Kick It Out is perfect. If the latter happened, the outrage would be rightfully universal. The fact that it isn't when it comes to a day being anti discrimination against LGBTQ+ people like myself (I'm bisexual) shows how far we still need to go.

As a gay man I have no problem with people who don’t except homosexuality for religious reasons or just personal reasons. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and views and I see no point in trying to change their minds as long as they don’t go out attacking gay/trans people I don’t care

I am once again asking for a video about Algeria's unofficial FLN national team (1958-1962)

Great vid as always i legit think you are my favourite channel on yt and thats big i am possibly addicted to youtube not really but also kinda

This is the only video you have made that I disagree with you.

lmaooooo the line about Gaye not minding being sodomised playing for everton killed me dead

I do think campaigns like this are quite important when there is a seemingly large proportion of young football fans online who are homophobic, if say a 13 or 14 year old boy sees mbappe or another of their idols supporting LGBT people then it could push them to more tolerant beliefs, this is amplified by footballs large audience.

This video was a breath of fresh air. Also, 6:19 had me wheezing 😭

You know Gueye definitely got bullied for that name as a kid and clearly never got over it 😂

Not for the first time, well said 👏 ✊️

Respect, Alfie! Love how you address this topic

6:05-6:28 is beyond legendary, a classic HITC Sevens tangent!

That Everton joke was next level 😂😂😂

Again a top notch job👏👏👏👏 keep em coming!

People are fed up with football being politicised though most people know that they should treat people with respect they don't need childish lectures

6:20 - this may be one of your best one-liners so far. This is the quality content I come for.

I always appreciate these video's bringing awareness too not only football's biggest issues but society's as a whole, i have some friends who are in the LGBTQ community so I'd consider myself an ally of the cause, unfortunately since covid the world as a whole has taken one massive step backwards from a homophobia, racist, migration stance and its so sad to see. All these marginalised communities have done a lot of work to help people and it feels like its all being undone, so when people like you make entensive deep dives into these issues with well researched and wonderfully articulated videos i for one appreciate it immensely! Keep up the amazing work!

It’s so laughable the way they release statements with the word respect in them 10000000 times

6:20 I'm dead. The deadpan delivery just killed me.

11:40 I may be wrong to keep thinking your intelligent, but I really would be thought you'd know better than to say "oh you believe in this do you? Well here's this other unrelated thing that you're doing wrong.... If you are a liar, why do you claim to believe that murder is wrong?" Silly silly Alfie.

His digs at Gueye had me dying 😂🤣

^ what @An Avocado said, it’s fitting that you released a video about a problem in one country just as another issue plaguing another came to light once again. This is the prime time to make a video covering the horrible racism issues in Spanish football

Thanks for making this video Alfie. It is infuriating seeing the number of bigots in the online football space.

I'm a muslim. Our religion explicitly banned homosexuality, yet our prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also promotes love and respect for people from all walks of life. What I can take and apply to a modern situation from the conundrum above is, I do not participate neither promote homosexuality, but if someone were abused for being LGBTQ+, I will take a stance to defend their rights to do so. That should be a good balance between personal belief and modern societal rights, but idk how it can be implemented in football.

I mean you gotta respect the players choice to not play due to their reasons at end of the day every one have his own opinion and no one can tell them that their opinion is wrong as in my opinion them not wearing the LGBTQ coulours wont hurt that cuminity

Very informative video. Thanks as always

Oooh my god i'm French I speak French in Paris and you accent is shambolic and so funny 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I absolutely love it

You will always be my favorite Football RU-vid for not standing for the ridiculous amounts of discrimination in Football. Thank you for all the work you do Alfie.