"I'm gay and I don't want to hide anymore". With
a video posted on his Instagram profile
, the Sparta Prague footballer, Jakub Jankto, has chosen to come out.
"Hello, I'm Jakub Jankto - his message - Like everyone else, I have my strengths, my weaknesses, a family, my friends, a job that I've been doing best for years, with seriousness, professionalism and passion . Like everyone else, I also want to live my life in freedom. Without fear. Without prejudice. Without violence. But with love. I'm gay and I don't want to hide anymore."
Jankto, who is 27, currently plays for Sparta Prague, on loan from Getafe, but has also been in Italy: in 2015 he arrived at Udinese, who sent him on loan to Ascoli in Serie B.
His debut in Serie A, in the 2016-2017 season in
Udine, where he remained for two seasons before moving to Sampdoria
where he remained for three seasons before moving to Spain in the summer of 2021. In total, he played 155 games in Serie A, scoring 17 goals .
"We are all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone."
With this tweet, accompanied by the emoticons of a rainbow flag and a heart,
Fifa sides with the Czech Republic national
Jakub Jankto, a 27-year-old former Udinese and Sampdoria player, who today came out declaring his homosexuality.
UEFA is also at the player's side
.
"You did well, Jakub - is the tweet of the European confederation -. You are a true source of inspiration, and European football is with you".
Between the two tweets from Fifa and Uefa is that of
Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret,
who posted the emoticon of a heart, and the same did the
Juventus account
, together with the image of a rainbow.
There are
many messages via social networks of solidarity
with Jankto.
The
Czech Republic football federation
(the national team of which the former Udinese player is a member) writes that "nothing changes for us. Live your life, Jakub", while the player's current club, Sparta Prague (which has on loan from Getafe) reveals that "Jakub spoke openly about his sexual orientation with the management and team-mates some time ago. Everything else concerns his personal life: no further comments, no more questions. You have our support. Live the life , Jakub. Nothing else matters."
Getafe
tweets "Our utmost respect and unconditional support", while "Proud of you, Jakub", is
Barcelona
's
tweet .
There is also a message from the official
Premier League
account : "We are with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone."
"Never live with the fear of what you are. We are with you, Jankto", is instead the tweet, with a heart emoticon, from
Milan
.
Post a rainbow and a heart, like Juventus did,
Real Madrid too.
"Thank you Jakub for your courage - writes the Swedish football federation -: being able to openly love whoever you want should be obvious".
The message arrives from the United States, again via Twitter,
(Mls): "Thank you for sharing your true self with the world. Football is for everyone."
