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exclusive There must be zero tolerance on homophobia in football, says Northern Ireland's only openly gay referee Ryan Hanna

Hanna calls for chiefs to crack down on slurs and finally make it a game for all

Ryan Hanna is encouraged by planned talks between the IFA and LGBT groups

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland - 2nd November 2009.
Belfast Telegraph staff Images Graham Luney

Graham Luney Twitter Email

May 25 2022 10:55 PM

Northern Ireland’s only openly gay football referee Ryan Hanna has made a passionate plea for governing bodies and associations throughout the world to take a much tougher stance on homophobia, racism and sectarianism in the game.

The 33-year-old, who took charge of last month’s Intermediate Cup final at Windsor Park which was won by Rathfriland Rangers, says much more must be done within the game to support and protect minority groups.

In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph last December, Hanna accused the Irish FA of failing to support him after he alleged he was subjected to vile homophobic slurs during a pre-season friendly in 2019.

A player allegedly called him a “gay b*****d” and a “f**king f****t”.

The case wasn’t proven when it came before the association’s Disciplinary Committee but Hanna says the “high profile” player got away with it.

John Laverty: Opinion Jake Daniels' decision to come out was inspiring... but don't expect it to open any floodgates in men's football

The official, who is originally from Ballymoney but now lives in Newry, insists he will now walk off a pitch if a similar incident occurs.

And he wants football chiefs to start dishing out severe punishments to anyone found guilty of such abuse.

“You will always have people stuck in the dark ages but we need people in charge of the game who will put these people in the corner and isolate them. I can’t do that on my own, neither can clubs,” argues Hanna who moved from coaching to refereeing in 2014.

“There needs to be a tough stance from the top. I believe racism and homophobia can be tackled if the authorities have a zero tolerance approach – issue big bans and fines to send out the message this will not be tolerated.

“If you are racist in work you lose your job. Players guilty of racism should face very long bans, sport should not be different.

“I do firmly believe football has to do more and take tougher stances against homophobia, racism and sectarianism and offer greater protection and support to minority groups.

“The different associations and governing bodies, including FIFA, should severely punish players if they refuse to play teams that have players of minority groups. It’s the only way to address the issue.

“Football is 30 years behind society and the dissent is a problem much more obvious than in rugby.

“Look at the racism scandal in cricket. When you don’t tackle these issues they continue. People did nothing about it – they turned a blind eye to it.”

After the incident in 2019, Hanna claimed someone at the Irish FA told him to “raise his tolerance level” because other referees don’t react to being called “fatty” or “baldy”.

A few years later, he’s encouraged by talks planned involving the Irish FA and LGBT groups to ensure that minority groups feel welcome in a game that should be for everyone.

“There shouldn’t be a fear of acting,” he argued. “There is a meeting coming up with LGBT groups and the Irish FA to see how we can move forward together and that’s positive.

“I’m a lot happier now, the refereeing is going well, my assessments are good and I enjoyed taking charge of the Intermediate Cup final at Windsor Park.

“I’m putting in the hard work and would love to be promoted to senior football so I can work in the Championship and as a Premiership fourth official.

“People within clubs have made an effort to talk to me and that’s important because it makes me feel welcome and settles me down. Feeling welcome is a huge thing.

“People within minority groups need to feel welcomed. You only have to do it once. It breaks down barriers and that support is needed.

“There will always be a few people who won’t accept me but the overwhelming majority of people will be supportive.”

Blackpool footballer Jake Daniels

Hanna is confident that a repeat of the alleged incident in 2019 will see him act very differently.

“If that happens to me again I will stop the game immediately,” he insists. “I should have stopped the game to bring attention to it.

“If any player said those things to me today I would walk off, I wouldn’t tolerate it. It’s the same with racial abuse.

“The weird thing is, it has made me stronger. After it happened I was anxious because you don’t know who is or isn’t supporting you.

“I think it’s important to make someone feel welcome, otherwise that person will always second guess and look at you differently because they are scared and don’t know what to do.”

Hanna’s calls for football authorities to get tough on intolerance come at a time when national sides are gearing up for this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar where homosexuality is illegal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said: “Everyone will see that everyone is welcome here in Qatar, even if we speak about LGBTQ+.”

Hanna added: “We all know why the World Cup is in Qatar.

“You can’t stand up and say we support human rights, equal rights and then give a World Cup to a country that is against all that. That doesn’t make sense.

“Members of the gay community may not feel safe going there.”

The Irish FA maintain it is against all forms of discrimination, they have arranged discussions with LGBT groups and backed Blackpool striker Jake Daniels when he became the UKs first active male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay.

exclusive There must be zero tolerance on homophobia in football, says Northern Ireland's only openly gay referee Ryan Hanna

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