Sports Minister Andrea Abodi came
under fire on Monday for suggesting that Czech Republic
midfielder Jakub Jankto had been ostentatious when he came out
as gay earlier this year.
"In general I don't like ostentations," Abodi told Radio 24
when asked about the possibility Jankto will move to promoted
Serie A side Cagliari.
"But individual choices should be respected".
Several opposition politicians expressed indignation at the
comments.
"Minister Abodi calls Jankto coming out an ostentation. It's a
trashy attack that shows how many limitations homosexuals have
to overcome in the world of sport and elsewhere," said Rachele
Scarpa, a lawmaker for the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
"Dear minister, it is necessary to show respect for the courage
of what Jankto decided to do".
Jankto, 27, got his break in senior professional soccer with
Ascoli in Serie B in the 2015/16 season.
He went on to play for Udinese and Sampdoria in Serie A and had
a stint at Sparta Prague last season, on loan from Spanish side
Getafe.
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