FIFA referee admits homosexuality

"I finally became myself. I will only be Igor, a gay person who respects people and their choices," Igor Benevenuto said on the GloboEsporte channel on July 8.

Benevenuto shared that football is a sport he has "hated very much" since he was a child. The 41-year-old referee was annoyed by the masculine atmosphere and culture in the game. However, Benevenuto chose football as another place to hide his authenticity. He decided to pursue a career as a referee after realising that becoming a player was not a viable option in the long run.

Benevenuto has been competing in Brazil for 23 years. That's when he had to live in an environment of "hostility to homosexuality". In 2021, he entered the FIFA referee list.

"I'm 41 years old and have 23 years dedicated to whistling. To this day, I've never been the real me. Gay people are used to not being themselves," Benevenuto shared.

Brazil is one of the countries with the richest football tradition in the world. Brazil holds the record of winning the World Cup five times and is the only team that has never missed the World Cup finals.

Brazil is also home to football superstars such as Pele, Garrincha, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo Nazario, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Neymar who have conquered world audiences.