Footballer Jakub Jankto reveals he is gay
This week, Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto became one of the most high-profile male footballers to share that they are gay.
The 27-year-old, who plays for Czech side Sparta Prague, said “I no longer want to hide myself”, in a video shared to Twitter, making him the first active player in men’s international football to come out.
“Hi, I’m Jakub Jankto,” he says in the video (below).
“Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses; I have a family, I have my friends. I have a job, which I have been doing it as best as I can, for years, with seriousness, professionalism, and passion. Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence, but with love.”
“I am homosexual,” he then says, “and I no longer want to hide myself.”
— Jakub Jankto (@jakubjanktojr) February 13, 2023
Currently, Jankto plays for Czech First League club Sparta Prague, on loan from Spain’s La Liga club Getafe and the Czech Republic national team.
Sparta Prague’s official Twitter account retweeted the video and said “you have our support”, then adding: “Live your life, Jakub”
The Premier League also responded to the video with a comment saying: “We’re with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone.”
Josh Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia, became the only openly gay player in a top men’s league when he came out in 2021.
In 2022, Blackpool’s Jake Daniels made history by becoming the only active male professional footballer in the UK and the first professional player to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
A couple of months later, in September, Zander Murray became the the first senior Scottish footballer to come out as gay. Read our SPOTLIGHT feature with Zander by clicking here.
To see a list of all the celebrities and public figures who have come out in 2023 (so far…), click here.
We’re all with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone 🏳️🌈❤️
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) February 13, 2023