Thomas Berling

Thomas Berling (born 21 January 1979) is a retired Norwegian football defender.[1] His retirement from football sparked media attention.

He hails from Drevja.[2] He played for Nardo FK, and joined Lyn ahead of the 1999 season. He played four games in the second highest Norwegian league,[1] and also played for the u-19 national team.[3]

In 2000 he disappeared from professional football. It later surfaced that he had come out as gay, and that he quit football as a result of what he described as widespread homophobia in the football community.[3] In 2001 he briefly came out of retirement, playing for lower league Drøbak/Frogn IF.[3]

Berling's case was cited several times in the upcoming years, as the connection between homophobia and sport was discussed in the national media now and then.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Thomas Berling Profile". Lyn Football.net (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  2. "- Homohets knekker potensielle profiler". VG (in Norwegian). 28 April 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "Homohets rammet landslagsspiller". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 27 April 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  4. Christiansen, Anders K. (12 November 2004). "Reagerer kraftig på Rekdals homoutspill". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  5. Pettersen, Charlotte Lokland; Kleve, Marie; Nordseth, Pål (19 September 2008). "- Håper han blir tatt vel i mot". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  6. Nordli, Øyvind (19 September 2012). "Han merket homohetsen på kroppen" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Retrieved 15 October 2012.


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