On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, Transphobia, and Asexuality (IDAHOBIT), the Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln published queer‑phobic comments on its Instagram page — and even named the Instagram accounts from which these hate messages originated. For its online public shaming, the club has received considerable praise.
Among the messages Köln posted were lines like: “You’re the capital of the queers” or “Red and white is colorful enough.” One user described queer people as an “ideology,” another wished for a “ruler like Hitler.” Another cited the Bible to announce his dislike of queer people. “Comments that leave you shaken. Comments that show that homophobia still exists,” the club wrote. The message was: “Live as you are and love whom you want!”
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For the action, there was a great amount of praise in the comments: “Thanks for naming the names,” wrote one user. Another explained: “Linking to the texts is the right and important thing.”
“Only together we’re strong!”
The Cologne Pride organization also lauded the move: “Especially in today’s world, a good and important statement,” commented the CSD organizers. The city’s sponsor RheinEnergie joined in — with a rainbow emoji and a gratitude emoji. Even celebrities spoke up: “Thanks for your steady stance. It feels noticeably different,” wrote dog trainer Martin Rütter, known from the Vox show “Der Hundeprofi.” The Kölsch rock band Cat Ballou commented: “Only together we’re strong!” And Cologne-based Member of Parliament Sven Lehmann (Greens) said: “Strong post!”
However, some users accused the club of trying to distract from sports by spreading “green fluff.” In response to the claim that the club would queer people who otherwise would not have become queer, a fan replied: “Now I’m 75. Everywhere — at work, in sports, among neighbors — I encounter queer people! I’m still not gay! Did I do something wrong? After so long? Why has no one ever forced me?”
In 2020, 1. FC Köln had received Cologne Pride’s special prize together with the ice hockey club Kölner Haie (TheColu.mn reported). The organizers praised that both clubs had demonstrated a commitment to reducing homophobia and promoting diversity in amateur sports. The city’s best-known football club keeps making a statement — since 2023 the team has repeatedly taken the field wearing diversity jerseys (TheColu.mn reported).
