Italian footballer Jesus Datalo has found himself in some hot water with his club Napoli. Why? Well Jesus decided to do a photo shoot for a magazine called Rameo, no big deal so far. The problem is however, that Romeo is a gay publication.

So let’s not jump to conclusions here, his club do pay his wages and he did not ask their permission to pose. Jesus made the mistake of wearing the clubs strip in some of the pictures, silly boy, he should have known that the club has rules for image violation etc. However, even bearing all that in mind, it’s hard not to think that the fact it was a gay mag was a factor in the clubs reaction.

I have blogged here on Gaelick about homophobia in football, and of my disgust that more footballers aren’t out and proud. Look at British Lions rugby legend Gareth Thomas who came out recently as an example of how things could be. Rather than the likes of Juventus director Luciano Moggi who was quoted as saying that

there are no gays in football, I don’t know if players are against having them in their team but I definitely am… A homosexual cannot do the job of a footballer. The football world is not designed for them, it’s a special atmosphere, one in which you stand naked under the showers

Here we have a footballer who is just appearing in a few photos and his club immediately says he may be punished, rather than thinking, well done, maybe you have gotten the club a new fan base.

When David Beckham modelled no one complained, Man U, Real, LA Galaxy, they all seem to see that the higher his star can go the better for them, more shirt sales, more attendances at games etc. It was the same when Freddie Ljungberg posed for Calvin Klein.

No matter how I try to see it from the clubs perspective, that he had on their strip etc, I just can’t see past the gay angle on this story. Not great PR by the club is it? I hope my beloved Arsenal draw them in Europe some time and give them a hiding.

Let’s hope more sports stars following Jesus’ footsteps and we get rid of these ridiculous notions of what it is to be an athlete.

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