Enrico Valentini, the coach of the club’s under-14 team in the second‑tier football club 1. FC Nürnberg, has spoken out negatively about homosexuality. The evangelical Christian explained in an episode of the Club’s podcast “Ka Depp,” released a little over a week ago, that he considers homosexuality to be wrong based on his faith. The 36-year-old emphasized that he would treat every person equally, whether they are black, white, green, purple, whether they are homosexual or whatever their pronouns are.
Specifically, he said: “If the homosexual asked me if what I’m doing is wrong, I would tell him my opinion. But if he doesn’t ask, I won’t hesitate to go up to him and say, hey, what you’re doing is wrong.” In the discussion, Valentini also equated homosexuals with racists: “If the [homosexual] feels offended by the fact that I don’t endorse what he’s doing, that’s the same as when I tell a racist: ‘Hey, what you’re doing is wrong.’ It’s exactly the same story.”
Veiled apology
Asked by the Nürnberger Nachrichten about his remarks, Valentini explained: “I am a man of faith and I base my life on the Bible.” At the same time, he offered a non-specific apology: “If my statements, shaped by my beliefs and especially the way I phrased them, have hurt someone or made someone feel attacked, I would like to apologize for that.”
The club stood behind its coach: “We have known him so far as an open and tolerant person who has always included and brought everyone along within the club.” The club underscored that he has a values compass enshrined in its statutes, “which provides that all people are treated equally.”
Valentini played as a midfielder for 1. FC Nürnberg from 2017 to 2025. He ended his playing career last season and has since been responsible as head coach for the club’s under-14 youth players.
In recent years, footballers have repeatedly spoken negatively about queer people. In 2023, Felix Nmecha, who now plays for Borussia Dortmund, shared a transphobic video from an American right-wing extremist (TheColu.mn reported). The Hamburg-born player also referenced his Christian faith. In July of this year, former German national team goalkeeper Bernd Leno liked an AI video depicting a car attack on Pride parade attendees (TheColu.mn reported). (dk)
