Aaron Ramsdale has took a stand against Homophobic bullying
Aaron Ramsdale also stated that his wife miscarried during a six-hour trip home from a post-World Cup vacation. He described the agony of that event as unbearable. Ramsdale hopes that by sharing his story, others who are going through similar hardships would realize they are not alone.
According to the India Today Sports Desk: Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has taken a stand against homophobia in football.
25-year-old stated that he will no longer remain silent when confronted with homophobic remarks in locker rooms or on social media, and that he is driven to make football a welcome environment for all.
Ramsdale’s decision to speak out comes at a time when football is dealing with prejudice and abuse issues. In July, a Fulham fan was banned from football for three years for homophobic chanting, an event that also resulted in a 100,000-pound punishment for Wolves due to the involvement of a significant number of their fans.
“I want this game I love to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone,” said Ramsdale. “I want my brother, Ollie – or anyone of any sexuality, race or religion – to come to games without having to fear abuse. Over the years, I’ve probably bit my tongue a few too many times whenever I hear homophobic comments or stupid things being said. I think maybe my brother has done the same, thinking it would make my life easier. All that ends today.”
Ramsdale’s wife had miscarried just days before the game on a six-hour journey back to London following a post-World Cup vacation.
He described the agony of that event as unbearable. Ramsdale hopes that by sharing his story, others who are going through similar hardships would realize they are not alone.
“There’s really no way that I can describe the pain of that six-hour flight back to London, even now,” he said. “I just want people out there to know that they’re not alone if they’re going through it themselves.”
He added: “The last few years especially, you see so much negativity and toxicity in football. Whether it’s on social media or at the grounds, it feels like a lot of people have lost all perspective.”
Ramsdale found encouragement from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in the face of these personal and professional problems. Even though the club was in the midst of a title race, Arteta gave Ramsdale time off to deal with a personal loss.
Ramsdale lauded Arteta for going “above and beyond” to secure his and his family’s well-being, exhibiting, in his opinion, the true traits of a manager.
“Even in the middle of the title race, with so much pressure on the club, he asked me if I needed some time off to deal with everything,” he said. “Mikel went above and beyond to make sure me and my family were OK. For me, that’s a manager.”
