Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto posted a video on social media on Monday saying he is gay, making him one of the most high-profile male football players to come out. (More Football News)
Jankꦛto posted a video on Twitter saying: “I'm homosexual. And I no longer want to hide myself.”
The 27-year-old Jankto is playing for Sparta Prague this season on ൩loan from Spanish club Getafe. He has previously played for Italian clubs Sampdoria and Udinese and has made 45 appearances for the Czech national team, scoring four goals and setting up 13 moℱre.
“Like everyone else, I want to live my life with freedom🎃, without fear, without violence, without prejudice, but with love,” Jankto says i💜n the video.
Sparta Prague's official Twitter🐲✱ account retweeted the video and said “you have our support.”
“Live your life, Jakub,” the club added.
Getafe also posted a message on🌞 Twitter, saying: “Our utmost respect and unconditional support to our player Jakub Jankto."
Th♌e Czech national team said “no🅷thing is changing for us."
The Premier L🔴eague responded to Jankto's video with a comment saying: "We're with yoꦗu, Jakub. Football is for everyone."
Jankto has a 3-year-old son, David, with his partner𓂃 Marketa. Their relationship ended in 20💃21.
While women's football features many prominent LGBTQ+🥀 players, it's still rare for professional male players to come out publicly as gay.
Josh Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia, became the only openly gay player in a top me🤪n's league when he came out in ♏2021.
Last year, Jake Daniels of English second-division c𒆙lub Blackpool bec♏ame the first active male professional football player in Britain to publicly say he's gay.
