Thomas Berling
Thomas Berling (born 21 January 1979)[1] is a retired Norwegian football defender. 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 homosexual, 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]
References
- ^ a b "Thomas Berling Profile". Lyn Football.net (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ^ "- Homohets knekker potensielle profiler". VG (in Norwegian). 28 April 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ^ a b c "Homohets rammet landslagsspiller". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 27 April 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ^ Christiansen, Anders K. (12 November 2004). "Reagerer kraftig på Rekdals homoutspill". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ^ Pettersen, Charlotte Lokland (19 September 2008). "- Håper han blir tatt vel i mot". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 February 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
  | This biographical article related to a Norwegian association football defender is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This biography related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer history or culture is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |