Gay former footballer Ouissem Belgacem on his impact in France, the World Cup Pride Match, and his sporting heroes

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…