Shine A Light: Issues that matter to players
In the build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Irvine – along with fellow Global Player Council members Sebastian Coates (Uruguay) and Mark-Anthony Kaye (Canada) – launched the first season of #ShineALight, a FIFPRO series where professional footballers talk about social and industry topics that matter to them.
The Australian talked with conviction about promoting LGBTQIA+ rights in football. He said: “I have family and friends who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community – a group of people who, for a long time, have been massively marginalised and discriminated against. I want to speak up for them.
“Let’s be clear here: homophobia in football is still a problem. There are a lot of issues facing sport and football in general – and I think any kind of toxic masculine atmosphere, which football unfortunately has sometimes, doesn’t make people from the gay community feel welcome and part of the game.”
Discover Jackson’s episode HERE.
