Football authorities should help gay players who feel trapped by shame, says Ouissem Belgacem
Sharing his story of struggle as a gay, Muslim footballer made Ouissem Belgacem a household name in France. Today, he continues to write books, create documentary films and deliver education, and he’s the guest on the latest episode of the Football v Homophobia Podcast…
Former academy footballer Ouissem Belgacem says more education is needed to counter the damaging emotions experienced by many young male footballers who are gay or bi.
The French author and advocate has told the Football v Homophobia Podcast of his ongoing disappointment with the game’s governing bodies and authorities, who have the power and resources to tackle homophobia more strategically but frequently fail to deliver.
Belgacem, now 38, hid his sexuality while pursuing a career in professional football in the 2000s. He frequently encountered discriminatory language and behaviours in the environments he played in, and the strong sense of shame that he experienced ended up consuming his ambition.
Despite a promising future on the pitch with Toulouse and the Tunisian national youth team, the pressure of keeping his identity a secret eventually became too heavy for Belgacem to bear. By the age of 20, he made the difficult choice to walk away from football completely.
“At that time, when I decided to quit, I used to be known as someone quite joyful, a good vibe in the changing room and outside,” he tells the FvH Podcast.
“But because of that secret that I was hiding, I became so dark. I was exhausted psychologically and mentally.”
Belgacem, whose 2021 memoir has had a huge impact in France, understands how shame can actively stop a gay male footballer from playing at his best. He says that while physical and tactical skills are important, mental well-being is the true foundation of success.
“In sport, if you want to be a top performer, a lot of things have to be aligned,” he explained.
“Obviously, that’s your physical, technical and tactical capabilities. But I think first and foremost, it’s also your mental strength.
“If you’re carrying weight because of the shame you feel about who you are, then it becomes very difficult to perform, because your mind has been taken away by some of those feelings which are preventing you from giving 100% on the pitch.”
Many gay players don’t feel like they belong, says Ouissem Belgacem
Today, Belgacem works closely with football clubs in France to challenge these barriers, but his visits to modern academies show that old prejudices still remain.
He strongly believes that the root of the problem is a lack of basic education regarding sexuality and how it is not a choice.
“People understand that you don’t decide on your skin colour, but so many people still think that you can have a pick on your sexual orientation,” Belgacem said.
“I see it when I go to football clubs. There is a question I like to ask at the beginning of the session. I ask the guys, who in the room thinks that being gay is a choice? And you see so many hands being raised.
“So it comes down to education. Because if people understand that it’s not a choice, how could you blame someone for something he never chose and that he can’t change? It would make no sense. So that’s why people need to be educated on this.”
Belgacem detailed his experiences in his 2021 memoir “Farewell to My Shame“, which will soon receive an English translation.
He continues to use his platform to push for systemic change, and is frustrated by the LFP in France which last season changed its annual LGBTQ inclusion activation on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, to a generic anti-discrimination campaign which Belgacem says has “made the fight against homophobia invisible.”
He adds: “The message that’s being sent is very bad for gay athletes because it makes you feel like you don’t belong there.
“It’s very difficult to appreciate my federation’s work when it comes to the fight against homophobia.
“I do everything I can at my own level. I try to go to football clubs when I can to speak to the people and stuff, but it would have a much bigger impact if that plan were undertaken by a federation.”
Listen to the conversation in full on the latest episode of the FvH Podcast.
You can follow Ouissem on Instagram at @ouissembelgacem.
Further reading…
FIFA blew chance to make World Cup Pride Match more meaningful, says gay former player (June 2026)
Ouissem Belgacem on growing up gay in French football, turning shame into Pride and fighting homophobia (June 2021)
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