Czech footballer Jakub Jankto announces he is gay

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech midfielder Jakub Jankto has announced in a video posted on social media that he is gay, becoming one of the most high-profile professional soccer players to come out as gay.

“I’m gay and I don’t want to hide anymore,” Jankto said in the video posted to Twitter.

Jankto, 27, is playing this season with Sparta Prague, on loan from Spanish club Getafe. He previously played for Italian clubs Sampdoria and Udinese. Accumulate 45 appearances with the Czech national team.

“Like everyone else, I also want to live my life with freedom, without fear, without violence, without prejudice, but with love,” Jankto said in the video.

Sparta Prague retweeted the video on their Twitter account: “You have our support. Live your life, Jacob.”

Getafe also posted a message on Twitter: “Our greatest respect and unconditional support to our footballer Jakub Jankto.”

Brazilian striker Neymar referenced the video during the press conference ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

“It’s an important day. I believe every person should be free, I don’t mind at all,” Neymar said. “Every human being should be free of what they want to be.”

The Czech team stressed that “nothing changes for us”.

For its part, the English Premier League also responded to the video with a comment: “We are with you, Jakub. Football is for everyone.”

Jankto has a three-year-old son, David, with his partner Marketa. They broke off their relationship in 2021.

While women’s football has several high-profile LGBTQ+ players, it’s still rare to see men coming out as gay in men’s football.

Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo in Australia has become the first to announce he is gay in a major league by doing so in 2021.

Last year, Jake Daniels of English second division side Blackpool became the first active male footballer in Britain to come out as gay.