ArE Lesbian Nigerian footballers
silenced by law to allow them to compete at 2015 Women’s world Cup?
Is it time for FIFA to stand up and be counted and insist
on fairy play and ethics for all at the Women’s World Cup to be held in Canada 2015?
Last night (07.12.14) saw millions of people the world
over watch the draw for the group games of the WWC 2015 and Nigeria will face
USA, Australia and Sweden in group D. The Canadians also held the Women’s U20’s
World Cup earlier this year and saw Germany beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final, but
the silence from FIFA was defining on allowing the Super Falcon’s side to
compete at all despite FIFA in 2013 stating they would investigate fully should
a ruling be brought in around forbiddance of their players to be openly
homosexual with the expected signing of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition
Bill) into Nigerian law.
The introduction of this law also means that Nigeria’s
players who engage in nothing more than conversation, share a visit to watch a
game or who participate with in duties alongside fellow competitors in the
Women’s World Cup (many of whom are publically open about their sexual
orientation) or engage with fans who are from an LGBT community will be
breaking the said law.
Part of the Act reads: “A person who registers,
operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations; directly or
indirectly makes public show of same sex amorous relationship in Nigeria
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years
imprisonment, and anyone convicted of entering into a same-sex marriage
contract or civil union faces up to 14 years imprisonment.”
That law came into effect dated 7th January 2014
when it was signed by Nigeria’s President -Goodluck Jonathan.
Around four years ago news began to break that a coach of
Nigeria’s International Women’s Football had sacked lesbian players from the team.
A few months later this news was confirmed when Super Falcons coach, Eucharia Uche stirred the
hornets’ nest when she made a remark regarding her position on ‘lesbianism’
during the lead up to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Yes, the lesbians in our team were really a big problem,”
she said. “But since I am coach of the Super Falcons, that has been cleared up.
There are no more lesbians on my team; I cannot tolerate this dirty life.” For her bluntness, she drew the ire of FIFA and a number of international gay groups. She was cautioned by the world football governing body, which through its head of Women’s competition, Tatjana Haenni said, “FIFA is against all forms of discrimination”.
The Nigeria Football Federation NFF in 2013 denied that Uche had stated any of this and also commented that they had not been under any FIFA probe or query.
The NFF’s Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, was also quoted to have said.
“We all know of these vices, because lesbianism has become a thing of common knowledge that the female footballers no more hide it among themselves. However, those who indulge in the nasty act had promised to stop it and the NFF is putting measures in place to ensure that they keep to their promises.”
One former Nigerian football player, Chichi Igbo who is openly lesbian and not ashamed of her sexual orientation who now plays in Denmark says “I know how different I am. I love me just the way I am with all my imperfections and flaws and I owe nobody any explanation and won’t apologise for who I am.” Unfortunately none of her LGBT colleagues based in Nigeria are able to do the same and speak out.
Former National Athletics coach, Amelia Edet and Football coach, Joy Etim have been unanimous in their support for the bill.
“I think the President is doing the right thing because it (homosexuality) is something that is so common. It’s an old thing that has always been, even in sports; but it is not something that should be accepted. It is a welcome development and it is left for us as Nigerians to say that we are supporting the decision that he is taking,” Edet said.
Etim agreed. “It (homosexuality) should be criminalized. We want people to know that it is not good for sports men and women because if not tackled on time, it will become as widespread as cultism in Nigerian higher institutions”, she said.
Coach Edet agrees that a high number of female athletes engage in lesbianism, going by her years of experience with the Falcons and female track and field athletes.
“I had a problem when I was with the first set of our female footballers because some of them happened to be lesbians.”
Football coach, Etim agreed that the trend is widespread in sports. She however voiced fears at the early age some players now get involved in the act. “They need to be lectured about what lesbianism is and to be told that it is bad. It is rampant”, she said.
“I happened to interview some girls who came from outside Lagos and these girls were from a village and I had to tell them what it means and the repercussions that follow. Some of them are as young as 13 years. If you want to know them, they look and walk like boys, and even call themselves ‘Fine boys’ and you will know who plays the role of the male and the role of the female.”
Etim said, “I played football during the mid-eighties to early nineties and it wasn’t common during our time. But now it is too much. When I served as a coach with the national team, I heard there were a lot of them in the team but I was more focused on the technical aspect of the job.
“It is likely that it was going on but because they were big girls, they wouldn’t do it where I will see them. Some of them would even go as far as paying for hotels outside the camp so there was little anyone could do.
Dilichukwu Onyedinma, was appointed by the NFF in October (2014) as deputy head of Fair play and Ethics, and is the person who caused international controversy with her campaign to drive lesbians out of Nigerian football a year ago when she stated: “Yeah, we don’t tolerate lesbianism and we always discuss it whenever we meet. We always warn clubs and club chairmen, to please tell their players to desist from it, because any player that we pick for national competitions, and we hear a little story that is involved in that, we disqualify the player.”
As of yet nothing has been explained as to how Onyedinma’s views and discriminatory actions can be reconciled with her duties as deputy head of the NFF Committee of Ethics and Fair Play and Article Three of the FIFA Statutes which aim to abolish all forms of discrimination in football.
FIFA : “Discrimination of any kind against a Country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”
Is it not now time for FIFA to take a zero tolerance towards member countries and their employees who are seen to be discriminatory on many occasions and bring in sanctions against these people and ultimately the country FA’s and ban them from competing on the world’s greatest stage in football of a World Cup Finals?
