A report by the Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture, Media & Sport recommended immediate and "tough sanctions -- including one- and two-year bans -- should be imposed on football supporters who engage in homophobic abuse," according to David Conn of the London GUARDIAN. Following a short inquiry held last year, the report cites a "range of surveys and research demonstrating homophobia is a major problem in school, youth and professional sports and recommends a zero-tolerance approach combined with better training and education for staff at all levels." The report said, "It is clear to us that the casual use of homophobic epithets and terms has a wide-ranging and damaging effect and we consider it disappointing that a significant percentage of people consider anti-LGB language to be harmless." The committee found that attitudes toward gay women footballers "were much more accepting; in fact it cites women footballers' frustrations that they are assumed to be gay" (GUARDIAN, 2/11). In London, Ben Rumsby reported evidence from FA Chair Greg Clarke that the sport "may not be a safe environment for gay players to come out" was branded "particularly troubling." Pointing out Justin Fashanu -- who committed suicide in '98 -- was still the only professional to have done so before retirement, the report said, "We warmly support and encourage the first player, or group of players, who feel they are comfortable and confident enough to come out as we believe that they will make a valuable and significant contribution to football" (TELEGRAPH, 2/11). The BBC reported the study said that "more should be done to show support for athletes who want to come out." It also said that match officials at all levels of sport "should have a clear duty to report and document any kind of abuse." Committee Chair Damian Collins said, "From the evidence we have received in this inquiry, we believe there are many gay athletes who have not come out, because they are frightened of the impact this decision will have on their careers, and the lives of the people they love" (BBC, 2/12). In London, Sam Cunningham reported the FA currently leaves homophobic abuse at matches "in the hands of the clubs and police." A recent survey found that 72% of football fans had "heard homophobic abuse at matches." The FA does not currently "deal with sanctioning supporters for abuse at stadiums and leave that in the hands of specific clubs and the police, but they plan to analyse and evaluate the CMS committee report as they attempt to tackle the problem" (DAILY MAIL, 2/11).
