Sparta Prague midfielder Jakub Jankto, who spent seven years of his career in Italy, announced that he was gay in a video posted on social media today.
The Czech midfielder joined Udinese’s youth system in 2014 for €700,000 and spent four years attached to the team, spending time on loan with Ascoli and Sampdoria, before departing for the Blucerchiati in 2019. After two years in Liguria, Jankto was sold to Getafe for €6m, joining Sparta Prague on loan 12 months later.
In a video posted to his Instagram page today, Jankto announced that he ‘no longer want[ed] to hide himself’, coming out as gay.
In 2023, it’s still rare to hear about actively playing gay footballers, making Jankto’s decision brave and inspiring for those still quiet about their sexuality.
Homophobia is still a pervasive issue in modern football and became a hot topic in the run-up and during the World Cup in Qatar, a nation that criminalises homosexuality.
Accompanying Jankto’s video on Instagram was the caption:
“Hi, I’m Jakub Jankto. Like everybody else, I have my strengths. I have my weaknesses. I have a family.
“I have my friends. I have a job which I have been doing it as best as I can, for years, with seriousness, professionalism and passion.
“Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom. Without fears. Without prejudice. Without violence. BUT with love. I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself.”
Respect!