Aaron Ramsdale, the custodian for Arsenal, makes a commitment to speaking out against homophobia so that others won’t have to ‘fear abuse’

Aaron Ramsdale, the custodian for Arsenal, has said that out of love and respect for his brother, he can no longer stay quiet about homophobic harassment in sports.

Ramsdale expressed his desire for football to be “a safe and accepting environment for everyone”—including his homosexual brother Oliver—in a piece for The Players’ Tribune.

When I hear homophobic remarks or foolish things being said, I’ve probably bit my tongue a few too many times over the years — both in dressing rooms and on social media, Ramsdale stated.

“I also believe that my brother followed suit to simplify my life.

So, it all stops today. I want anybody who attends a game, regardless of sexual orientation, colour, or religion, to do so without worrying about being harassed.

The English football anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out reported receiving 1,007 allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the 2022–23 season, a 65.1% increase from the previous year.

Despite the fact that racism continues to be the most common form of discrimination, Kick It Out reported that research by Signify, a company that looks into online threats and misinformation, had found “peaks of homophobic and misogynistic abuse targeting several high-profile WSL [Women’s Super League] players,” despite the fact that the league’s administrators continue to support numerous campaigns that combat homophobia and encourage LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Ramsdale referred to his brother as “the genuine celebrity of the family” and “the bold one” since he performs on London’s West End.

“My brother is homosexual, and he has lived his life in an open and genuine manner since he left for school,” he said. He is my brother, and I couldn’t be happier.

“I haven’t mentioned it before, but it needed to be brought up with everything happening in football right now.

Oliver and I have a lot of similarities. He is a typical guy, is a football fan, Enjoys hanging around with his friends, and loves Arsenal. Both he and I are proud of each other.

Ramsdale covered a lot of ground in his lengthy Players’ Tribune letter, including his climb from English football’s lower divisions, the hatred he has faced on the field and online, and his wife’s miscarriage after they had returned from vacation earlier this year.

Even today, Ramsdale said, “There’s just no way I can explain the misery of that six-hour journey back to London.

“I just want everyone to know that if they’re going through it themselves, they’re not alone. I kept what occurred a secret from many people when we came back. The only people I have are my family, colleagues, and of course, [Arsenal manager] Mikel [Arteta].

Ramsdale, 25, a two-year veteran of Arsenal who transferred from Sheffield United, stated of Arteta that he “forever has my regard for how he handled our loss”.

He also related how, a few days after the miscarriage, a Tottenham supporter kicked him in the back during Arsenal’s 2-0 win in the North London Derby.

The fan was eventually given a 12-month community order, a four-year ban from watching football, and a £100 ($127) fine from Ramsdale.

The custodian recalled the event, saying, “I remember when I went back to the dressing room, I couldn’t even rejoice because I was hauled out to make a police statement.”

“You know, I almost felt sorry for the guy who did it because I said to myself If he only understood me as a person and what I’m genuinely going through right now, there’s no way that he would’ve done it.

“We’d definitely be friends if we ran across one other one day and started talking about football.”

Ramsdale has played three times for England and was a key player in helping Arsenal win the Premier League last season despite finishing fifth, five points behind Manchester City.

On August 11, the new Premier League season kicks off, with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium the next day.