Skofterud fronts gambling at the Soccer Club gets the first open … – Dagbladet.no

A betting company in Norway has set up a list of odds which elite club that is going to get the first openly gays player. The stunt has received many reactions.

– The intention is probably quite straightforward, but this is just wrong. Such stunt leads only to the players feel increasing pressure to come forward. It must never be so players feel pressured. The goal must be that football is equally obvious that the rest of the surrounding community, where it’s okay to be openly gay, said Gjert Moldestad to Bergens Tidende.

Moldestad profiled Fire-supporter and advocate of gay rights. He is highly skeptical of PR stunt to “ComeOn!”.

– To start looking for gays players in the premier league is the wrong way to go. What’s next; odds list of ten specific name ?, continues Moldestad.

Skofterud fronts

Games Company decided to make the list after the last week’s debate on homosexuality in Norwegian football. The odds on the various college clubs launches Vålerenga which made where it is most likely that a player chooses to “come out of the closet”, followed by Molde and Rosenborg.

– Traditionally Oslo always been a tolerant and free place. Both culture and tradition shows that many searches here from places where it is more difficult to be gay. It is probably probably the same mechanisms that allow clubs in north comes at the bottom of this list, said gaming analyst in betting company, Stian Røsvik Bjørstad.

The company ambassador, Vibeke Skofterud, fronts PR stunt.

– Vålerenga has for many years worked purposefully to be a club that embraces diversity and multicultural community. It would therefore be quite natural about “Enga» got Norway’s first openly gays top player, she says.

Useriøst

Communication Manager Arve Sjølstad in Norwegian Tipping stunt call for “unserious” and denies that the company could have done something similar. National Association for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LLH) was made aware of the odds list of Bergens Tidende.

– On standing up, I find it difficult to comment on this stunt, says communication Ingvild Endestad the newspaper.

– It must be up to each individual whether one will stand he is gay or not. There should be another hunt for gays. In general it is clear that clubs who work with openness, will have an effect. But the interesting thing is not which club gets the first openly gays players, but where it is most pleasant to be openly gay, continues Endestad.

The newspaper tried to get in touch with Skofterud, unsuccessfully. Røsvik Bjørstad says that those responding have misunderstood the intent of the list.

– There has been a debate internally with us and we went several rounds, for it is a touchy subject. But we thought it was inside. It’s a game on a topic of current, said Røsvik Bjørstad.

(NTB)