06/24/22 09:55:00
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06/24 21:53 CDT Former Brazil player Richarlyson says he is bisexual
Former Brazil player Richarlyson says he is bisexual
By MAURICIO SAVARESE
AP Sports Writer
SAO PAULO (AP) --- Former Brazil and Sao Paulo midfielder Richarlyson said in a
podcast on Friday that he is bisexual, a rare revelation in a country where
macho culture in soccer is rife.
He is the first player from a Brazilian top-flight team to say he's bisexual.
The 39-year-old Richarlyson played two matches for Brazil in 2008. He was part
of the Sao Paulo squad that won the 2005 Club World Cup against Liverpool. The
midfielder also won three national titles for the club. Ricky, as fans used to
call him, was also in Atletico Mineiro's Copa Libertadores winning squad in
2013.
"All my life I was asked whether I was gay or not. I had relationships with men
and I had relationships with women, too," Richarlyson said in the podcast aired
by website Globo Esporte. "I am normal, I have wishes and desire. I dated men,
I date women. So what?
"So many people say it is important that I stand up, so I decided to say it
today. I am bisexual."
The former footballer and analyst at TV Globo said he didn't talk about his
sexuality previously because he believed "the world is not ready to have this
discussion and handle this naturally."
The only similar public case in Brazil was a fourth-division player in 2010;
goalkeeper Messi, who played for Palmeira, a team from the inland city of
Goianinha.
Richarlyson said he chose his career over revealing his sexuality.
"I am not saying this because I stopped playing. No," he said. "I never said it
because it was not my priority. It wasn't today either, but now I felt
comfortable to say it. I wish this was not a topic. I wanted to talk about my
new career as a pundit," he said.
Sao Paulo asked for respect for its former player on Twitter: "That same
courage he shows in his life. Maximum respect for his trajectory," the club
said, without mentioning the content of the interview.
Atletico Mineiro, where Richarlyson played briefly, was more effusive.
"Richarlyson, thanks for recognizing Atletico is the only team you played and
did not suffer prejudice," the club said on Twitter. "May soccer be a place of
respect to any sexual orientation."
Sao Paulo-based Corinthians also celebrated his openness in the podcast.
Corinthians posted on Twitter: "Richarlyson was a great player, a great rival
on the pitch and is a great sports professional. Now, after he says he is
bisexual he remains all of that, and puts himself as an important voice of the
resistance. We have the utmost respect."
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