“[It] hurts me more than anyone.”
This is Jesús Tomillero Benavente, a soccer referee in Spain. He made history in March when he came out as gay in an interview with El Español, making him the first out gay referee in Spain.
Jesús Tomillero Benavente / Via facebook.com
The announcement alienated him within the Andaluz Football Federation and made him the target of homophobic slurs on the field.
Now, just two months after publicly coming out, Tomillero tells El Español he is leaving the sport he loves because the anti-gay insults have become too much.
The final straw was what unfolded during a game on Saturday when people began hurling homophobic insults at the 21-year-old referee.
Jesús Tomillero Benavente / Via Facebook: 1595698080656025
Tomillero told El Español that when he called a penalty during a game between Portuense and San Fernando Isleño he was met with horrible abuse.
"That's the faggot referee who was on television!" yelled one of the people in the crowd.
"You can stick that goal up your ass, faggot shit," yelled someone on the visiting team.
from BuzzFeed - Sports http://ift.tt/1X1tF9X
