Soccer: the coming out of a Brazilian referee who didn't like soccer

Poor footballer turned professional referee Igor Benevenuto, who kicked the ball reluctantly so as not to be called a "little faggot" by his classmates, came out last month.

As a teenager, this Brazilian discovered his passion for refereeing: at first, it was just a "camouflage", but he now plays at the highest level. At the age of 41, he is no longer in hiding, having decided to publicly reveal his homosexuality.

It's a way of freeing oneself of an "emotional charge", but also of serving as an example and contributing to the fight against intolerance in a country where homophobia is still very present, particularly in the world of soccer. "I want to show that soccer is a space for socialization that can welcome all types of people, whatever their skin color, sexual orientation or any other situation. It's a right that must be respected," he told AFP from his hometown of Belo Horizonte (south-east Brazil).

A professional referee since 2009, this man with short chestnut hair and a greying three-day beard regularly officiates at Brazilian first division matches.

Since last year, he has been one of FIFA's official referees eligible for international matches.

And since 2020, in addition to these activities, he has returned to his nursing profession to join the fight against Covid-19.

His decision to reveal his homosexuality on the podcast "Os armarios dos vestiarios" (The changing rooms) in July changed his life. "Before, I had to constantly hide myself, hide my attraction to men," he recounts. "I was never completely happy, I had few friends, I was afraid people would ask me about my private life. I had a breakdown, I needed psychological help because I thought there was something wrong with me," reveals the Brazilian referee.

"Creating a character that hides my sexuality"

His troubles began in early childhood. In his neighborhood, boys who didn't play soccer were automatically called "fags". This hostility towards homosexuals made him hate the sport. "Not at all good with the ball", he nevertheless played so as not to be excluded from the group.

In 1994, when the Seleçao won their fourth world title in the USA, 13-year-old Igor remembers above all the colorful shirts worn by the referees, who had abandoned their traditional black robes for the first time at a World Cup.

And rather than play with other youngsters in the neighborhood, the Brazilian teenager decided that from now on he would referee their matches. "It was a way of staying connected to soccer with a kind of camouflage, of creating a persona that hides my sexuality," he concedes. "The referee is a symbol of authority, he's the one who commands, who dictates the rules. A rather virile role, even if it remains secondary in this sport".

This "camouflage" became a passion, which reconciled him with soccer. "I'm not crazy about soccer like a fan who would do anything to see a match. But I have learned to appreciate the sport," he admits.

Take women's soccer, for example

The soccer world is no less hostile to the LGBT+ community, in a country where attacks on homosexuals are a daily occurrence and homophobic chants regularly echo in stadiums.

"There's a lot of prejudice in soccer, especially in Brazil. Gays are afraid of being attacked by fans, either physically or verbally," denounces Igor Benevenuto. "Some soccer professionals are also afraid of becoming unemployed, which is why they're afraid to come out as gay," he insists.

He believes that women's soccer, where homosexuality is becoming less and less of a taboo subject, is an example to follow. "It's important to see the Brazilian women's national team defending this cause, by publishing photos with the rainbow flag. It's an important step in the fight against prejudice, which is more deeply rooted in men," he said.

One thing is certain: he has absolutely no regrets about coming out as gay: "Today, I'm at peace with the soccer world, everyone supports me.