Out in Front: The Tragic Heroism of Justin Fashanu

As Nigeria faces off against Argentina today, we pay tribute to Justin Fashanu, Nigerian-English striker and the first openly gay professional footballer. Born in inner-city London to immigrant parents, he enjoyed a successful career in English club soccer, being the first black player to command a transfer fee of 1 million pounds.

Fashanu came out publicly in 1990 with an interview in an English tabloid, and bore the brunt of football fandom’s twin demons: racism and homophobia. Accused of sexual assault in 1998, Fashanu committed suicide. In his last note, he insisted on his innocence, lamenting that “justice isn’t always fair. I felt I wouldn’t get a fair trial because of my homosexuality.”

Justin Fashanu is still remembered today by LGBT activists fighting against homophobia in global football. His example is particularly relevant in today’s Nigeria, a football-loving nation under the yoke of both anti-gay legislation and anti-soccer attacks from Boko Haram.