Der Hammer

[purpletrousers]

As many have said, it shouldn't be news; that aside I wish him well in his retirement and hope that he is happy in whatever direction life takes him. He always comes accross as an intelligent and articulate bloke so I wouldn't be surprised if a media career awaits him.
Alternately a mentoring role may suit him well as he knows how it felt to move from his homeland at a young age and would be able to relate to.young players coming into a strange environment.

I think a lot of it is down to the media hyping up these stories. Does anyone think any less of him for announcing this? I doubt it. Will it change his post football work, doubt that too.

He is the one that will benefit the most by being true to himself, that's the bravest bit in all of this.

I wonder if it will open doors for him in a way, maybe the normal punditry route (as he is eloquent and endearingly foreign-brummie) would be an ideal outcome, not making a 'thing' of it.

Alternatively I do wonder about a role as some sort of inclusion officer/ambassador for our club the FA/German FA etc. not that he should have to make something of it, but just an interesting thought.

I have to say am sick of hearing homophobic comments still at Football, and think I may take this as a confidence boost to challenge a fellow Villa fan if I ever hear some abuse. I've risked challenging racism before and things have got to change.

Here's to the day it's not news anymore.

[Nirog72]

I agree with all posters who feel it is sad that this makes headlines on Sky and what this says about the sport, but the counter argument is that if it didn't not much will change. He is being himself, he might not feel he's being brave or trying to send any messages out to the wider game, but he is. Unless these prejudices are challenged they live on, his gesture is significant, as was the American player, because they provoke thought and discussion. Top bloke.

[lordmcgrath5]

Here's to the day it's not news anymore.

This. But it is still news in the football world.

[itbrvilla]

I'd echo what others have said and wonder why this should be newsworthy in 2014. One thing though, is it really *that* brave, considering he's now retired? Granted, I'd imagine coming out requires a degree of bravery under any circumstances (although would you really want to stay close to any relative / loved one who didn't accept your sexuality?), but for a footballer, coming out after you've retired is surely taking the big risk out of the equation?

Surely its better for him being a celebrity to just get it out their rather than tabloids and shitty gossip magazines spreading rumours and eventually outting him?

[greenwichvilla]

This is a serious request. If anyone would be interested in speaking about this on the BBC World Service (radio) tonight at 645 for fifteen minutes or so, please send me a PM.

[freethinker]

Hitz is quoted in the Guardian saying that he didn't have a problem in dressing rooms in the UK, Italy or France.

Apologies if this has already been posted but I've just read elsewhere that his comments may have lost something in translation.

It is reported that he said "In England, Italy and Germany being a homosexual is no big thing, at least not in the dressing room." What he actually said was "kein ernsthaftes Thema" which apparently translates as "not a real subject", i.e. something that is not talked about in the dressing room.

Any German speakers on here?

[Hookeysmith]

For a horrible moment I thought he was coming out as blues fan!

Which lets face it... is unforgivable in any walk of life

[London Villan]

Why is football singled out in this though.

As a group of fairly hard-core supporters on here we seem pretty unanimous in the opinion that it's not big news, it doesn't change what we think of Der Hammer and fair play to him. I'd be interested to hear off anyone that has an alternative view to the general consensus? I bet there isn't one, which seems to me to say we are not the homophobic lot that we are made out to be in some quarters of the media and hence it ultimately shouldn't really be news!

[PeterWithe]

Hitz is quoted in the Guardian saying that he didn't have a problem in dressing rooms in the UK, Italy or France.

But he did in Germany? Also given it appears he was married/had a girlfriend when he played for the Villa it perhaps wasn't common knowledge. Having said which despite the many criticisms of modern footballers I can't imagine many being bothered by something like this, just like the vast majority of people in their own line of work. I can completely understand why footballers don't come out during their careers though As well as the potential abuse from fans and their own personal reasons they may have for not being "out" I think there would be a large degree of unfair pressure on a current pro coming out now & being the first, or one of the first. You would forever be labelled "the first gay footballer" and be seen as some sort of pioneer or trailblazer when you may well not want the attention. Given the goldfish bowl pressures a footballer has in their personal and professional life anyway I can imagine this being seen as an extra unnecessary burden. Sad but true.

Er sorry, must have got distracted and typed France, where I'm not aware he played, instead of Germany where he certainly did.

[supertom]

What was a shame recently was a listing of all the homo-phobic tweets from famous folk in the last year or so. The group consisted predominantly of rappers but also sports stars too. I guess in sports there's still a certain degree of homophobia. I mean a lot of young sportsmen with the medium of twitter at their disposal are just a bit naive and foolish of course.

[Concrete John]

Why is football singled out in this though.

As a group of fairly hard-core supporters on here we seem pretty unanimous in the opinion that it's not big news, it doesn't change what we think of Der Hammer and fair play to him. I'd be interested to hear off anyone that has an alternative view to the general consensus? I bet there isn't one, which seems to me to say we are not the homophobic lot that we are made out to be in some quarters of the media and hence it ultimately shouldn't really be news!

When we post on here we do so as individuals with balanced and reasoned views.  Most of the time, anyway.  But stick us in a stadium and amoidst the passion of a game and a group mentality can easily take over, which tends to be less balanced and reasoned.

See Upson, M. 

[freethinker]

Why is football singled out in this though.

As a group of fairly hard-core supporters on here we seem pretty unanimous in the opinion that it's not big news, it doesn't change what we think of Der Hammer and fair play to him. I'd be interested to hear off anyone that has an alternative view to the general consensus? I bet there isn't one, which seems to me to say we are not the homophobic lot that we are made out to be in some quarters of the media and hence it ultimately shouldn't really be news!

When we post on here we do so as individuals with balanced and reasoned views.  Most of the time, anyway.  But stick us in a stadium and amoidst the passion of a game and a group mentality can easily take over, which tends to be less balanced and reasoned.

See Upson, M. 

I agree with what you're saying about the mob mentality, but could it also be that the sort of people who post on websites such as this aren't truly representative of football fans in general?

[dave.woodhall]

Before we start patting ourselves on the back for our liberalism, let's remember the countless Mark Lawrenson comments.

[Ger Regan]

I'd echo what others have said and wonder why this should be newsworthy in 2014. One thing though, is it really *that* brave, considering he's now retired? Granted, I'd imagine coming out requires a degree of bravery under any circumstances (although would you really want to stay close to any relative / loved one who didn't accept your sexuality?), but for a footballer, coming out after you've retired is surely taking the big risk out of the equation?

Surely its better for him being a celebrity to just get it out their rather than tabloids and shitty gossip magazines spreading rumours and eventually outting him?

Of course it should be his choice whether or not he reveals his sexuality, although i'm not sure many tabloids / gossip mags would be going through his rubbish looking for a story, I liked him when he was at the villa but he's hardly a superstar. My point was that I'm not sure how brave the decision really is, over and above anyone else coming out.

[itbrvilla]

52 caps for Germany and a Bundesliga title may mean he gets more unwanted media attendion than your average German footballer.