News
Scotland’s first openly gay footballer reflects on his journey to happiness
As a public speaker and activist, the ex-striker currently dedicates his efforts to supporting and advocating for others.
A life-changing decision was made by Zander Murray while sitting on a balcony in Benidorm, one that would ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life.
After 16 years of secrecy, Murray announced on social media that he was gay, becoming the first senior male player in Scottish football to publicly come out.
Nearly four years later, the former striker reports feeling significantly happier living authentically, now dedicating his time to promoting inclusivity as a public speaker and activist.
Murray, 34, acknowledges that while football has made progress in terms of inclusivity, the men's game in Scotland still lags behind the women's in terms of LGBT visibility.
In an interview with Radio Scotland Breakfast, Murray reflected on his decision to come out, saying he replayed his life and realized the struggle he faced was unnecessary.
With only a private Facebook account at the time, Murray decided to make a post announcing his sexuality, which he thought would be a low-key move.
However, upon waking up, he was met with an overwhelming response, as media outlets picked up the story, and his post went viral.
What motivated Murray to continue his advocacy work were the thousands of messages he received from people of all ages and backgrounds, including those in football, who were struggling with their own sexuality.
At the time of his announcement, Murray was playing for Gala Fairydean Rovers, a club whose management and players he has since praised for their support.
The outpouring of public support and the knowledge that his story had helped others, including those who had considered taking their own lives, left Murray feeling privileged and driven to continue his work.
Murray credits the positive impact of his story on others as the reason he continues to advocate for inclusivity, saying, "Their lives were touched by my story, and that's what motivated me to keep going."
Murray recalls the difficulties he faced while struggling with his own identity and has come to realize that he was dealing with internalized homophobia.
Internalized homophobia occurs when LGBT individuals absorb and accept negative societal beliefs about their community, leading to self-doubt and shame.
Murray admits to having despised himself in the past, fearing others would discover his true nature, and struggling with feelings of self-hatred.
If he could go back in time, Murray says he would offer his younger self reassurance, telling him that everything would be okay and that he should be proud of who he is.
Now, three-and-a-half years after coming out, Murray is proud to have empowered so many people, giving them the confidence to be their authentic selves.
Since retiring from football in 2024, Murray has become an award-winning keynote speaker, delivering talks on inclusivity in sports to institutions worldwide, including Uefa.
Murray was featured in a BBC Disclosure documentary, Out on the Pitch, which aired in March 2023, exploring the issue of homophobia in football and ways to make the sport more inclusive.
The documentary examined the efforts being made to address homophobia in football and the steps that could be taken to create a more welcoming environment for LGBT players.
Murray points out that of the 130,000 professional male footballers worldwide, none are openly gay or bisexual, a statistic he finds troubling.
However, he believes that organizations such as Football vs Homophobia and the SPFL are working to create a more inclusive environment, and he hopes his own story will inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
Murray's goal is for someone to see the work he is doing and think, "If he can do it, maybe I can too," thus encouraging more players to be open about their sexuality.
This month marks LGBTQ History Month, a time to promote the history and celebrate the lives of LGBT individuals.
Research has shown that LGBT people in Scotland feel more excluded from football than from other sports, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity in the men's game.
Murray notes that the women's game is far more advanced in terms of LGBT acceptance, and he believes this is due to differing perceptions of masculinity.
The women's game, with over 5,000 professional players in Europe, has a significant number of openly LGBT players, which Murray sees as a positive sign.
In contrast, the men's game lacks this level of visibility, but Murray hopes that by breaking down barriers, the sport can become more inclusive.
Murray had no trouble finding over 100 openly LGBT players in the women's game, a stark contrast to the men's game, where there are none.
He believes that the key to creating change lies in continuing to challenge and break down these barriers.
Murray's ultimate goal is to see a future where LGBT players can be open and honest about their sexuality without fear of repercussions, and he hopes to achieve this in the next five to 15 years.
For those struggling with their sexuality in football, Murray's advice is to "ignore the noise" and be true to themselves.
He emphasizes the importance of visibility, saying that people need to see others like him, who are openly LGBT, to feel more comfortable being themselves.
By increasing visibility and promoting inclusivity, Murray believes that a cultural shift can occur, one that will ultimately lead to a more welcoming environment for LGBT individuals in football.
News
GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.
Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.
A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.
Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.
However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.
Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.
"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.
With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.
The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.
Team GB is at the forefront of curling's technological advancements.
Embracing what sets you apart can be a powerful asset, according to some athletes.
A daily guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the action.
The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.
With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.
However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.
The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.
Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.
Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.
The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.
"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.
News
Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.
The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.
Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.
In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.
Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.
He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.
A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.
The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.
The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.
Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.
The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.
The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.
The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.
Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.
The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.
The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.
The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.
News
Golfer McIlroy Sinks Bunker Shot at Pebble Beach Pro-Am
At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, capping off his opening round with a score of 68.
During the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, contributing to his first-round score of 68.
For further information, Rory McIlroy had a solid opening round, while Hisatsune took the lead.
Access to this content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.
-
News8 hours agoAustralian Politics Faces Questions Over Gender Equality Amid Sussan Ley’s Appointment
-
News5 hours agoFarage Says Reform to Replace Traditional Tory Party
-
News5 hours agoWrexham Pair Seek Win Against Former Team Ipswich
-
News11 hours agoLiberal Party Removes Australia’s First Female Leader
-
News9 hours agoUK Braces for Cold Snap with Snow and Ice Alerts Expected
-
News5 hours agoHusband’s alleged £600k theft for sex and antiques blamed on drug side effects
-
News2 days agoSunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people
-
Business11 hours agoBBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool