How many talented players give up on football at a young age because of homophobia? Ouissem Belgacem was one of those players, a highly-rated defender in Toulouse’s academy and a Tunisia youth international. But he quit football, aged just 20, pushed out by the sport he still loves. Belgacem is now one of the most influential LGBTQ voices in France. He’s an author, public speaker and a documentary…
The build-up to the 2026 World Cup has been stormy and turbulent… any sign of a rainbow? Possibly! Football unites the world (apparently) - and as always, LGBTQ+ football folks look set to make themselves seen and heard during the biggest sports event on Planet Earth. This special episode of the FvH Podcast looks at the Men’s World Cup through a queer lens. Host Jon Holmes from FvH and Sports…
Luke Tuffs has been a first-team coach and manager in non-league football for more than a decade. From being a key figure in Hartley Wintney's FA Cup and FA Vase runs, to taking the managerial reins at Knaphill, Ashford Town (Middlesex) and Leatherhead, he has considerable coaching experience in the semi-professional scene. In his second spell at Ashford Town, he recently led the team to a league…
February marks the Football v Homophobia Month of Action, and for Premier League clubs and fan groups, there's a fresh initiative from the Premier League - it's called 'With Pride'. Across consecutive match rounds, there will be a focus on education and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community in the game, as the league moves on from the long-running Rainbow Laces campaign. On this episode of the FvH…
To mark Trans Awareness Week 2025, we’ve got a question of sport for you - where did all the trans footballers go? Despite attempts to erase what is a very small group, and from the women’s grassroots game in particular, these players have by no means packed their boots away. With the support of many inspirational clubs and leagues, the action and the activism continues. On this special Football v…
Having scored more than 200 goals for his local club, based in a small village in Somerset, Callum Hodge can say with confidence that he’s made his mark in grassroots football. Millions of men across the U.K. play at a similar level every week - but Callum’s story is unusual. He came out as gay in his early 20s and has carried on playing into his late 30s. He’s yet to meet another player at this…
‘Footballer’ - that’s what is written in Lars Fellows’ Instagram bio, along with Pride flags and a kiss emoji for the TV show that’s changed his life. Lars is our guest on a special episode of the FvH Podcast. The first-ever trans contestant on the BBC’s ‘I Kissed a Boy’ shares his football story in the media for the first time, and it’s an enthralling tale. As an Under-18, he played at a high…
The sun may have set on the masseria for another year, but don’t worry... we’ve got one of the lads from hit TV show ‘I Kissed A Boy’ season 2 right here, on the FvH Podcast! Not only was Jordan Burrow one of our faves from this latest series, but he also showed his football credentials by donning a tangerine kit to honour footballer Jake Daniels, who’s still the only out gay player in the men’s…
It’s party time! The Football v Homophobia campaign is in the mood for dancing because Awards Night is here once again - and this year, we’re all going to Glasgow! This is the sixth staging of the only event of its kind, recognising outstanding achievement in the field of LGBTQ+-inclusive football - from the professional clubs setting the standard, to the fan groups that are bringing folks back to…
In the history of the Rainbow Laces campaign, LGBTQ supporters groups have been pivotal - think of Proud Hornets’ huge rainbow mosaic at Watford, fans getting to chat with first-team players, and clubs and community trusts sharing the stories of members. However, in the 2024 activation, three groups in the Premier League - Crystal Palace’s Proud and Palace, Manchester United’s Rainbow Devils and…
