Twitter gay spain
Former Spanish footballer and Nature Cup winner Iker Casillas looks on during an OmegaPro Legends Cup football match at in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on May 12 (KARIM SAHIB / AFP)
Australia's first openly gay footballer, Josh Cavallo, criticized Iker Casillas for being "beyond disrespectful" and joking about coming out after a upload on the former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper's Twitter account said he was gay.
A post on Casillas' official account on Sunday said: "I wish you respect me: I'm gay" to which former Barcelona defender Carles Puyol responded: "The time has come to tell our story, Iker"
A post on Casillas' official account on Sunday said: "I desire you respect me: I'm gay" to which former Barcelona defender Carles Puyol responded: "The time has come to tell our story, Iker." The display on the Casillas account was later deleted and he said his account had been hacked and he apologized to his fans and the LGBT community, as did Puyol for what he said was a "clumsy joke".
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Cavallo criticized the Spanish duo
Iker Casillas 'I'm gay' tweet: Why it was no laughing matter
For a couple of hours on Sunday lunchtime, Iker Casillas was the most famous lgbtq+ footballer in the society.
Until, of course, he wasn't.
"I hope you respect me: I'm gay," said a tweet from the account of the former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper.
Those words represented, at least at first glance, a watershed moment for football.
Had it been true, Casillas would have been the most significant male player to open up about their sexuality, in a sport where the number of out male role models can still be counted on the fingers of a pair of goalkeeping gloves.
But among all the supportive replies to Casillas' supposed coming out, there was a tell-tale sign that things weren't what they seemed.
"It's time to say our story, Iker," said Carles Puyol - Casillas' former team-mate for Spain, signing off his response with a kiss emoji.
And, as it turned out, Casillas wasn't coming out at all.
Two hours after the 'respect me: I'm gay' share went up, Casillas deleted it - and replaced it with a novel tweet, claiming he'd been h
Real Madrid and Spain legend Iker Casillas posts tweet reading 'I'm gay'
Spanish footballer Iker Casillas has shared a tweet saying he is gay.
Casillas' post came more than a year after he split from his former wife, sports correspondent Sara Carbonero, after five years of marriage.
The paid welcomed two children during their marriage, but divorced in March In a heartfelt statement written at the time, Casillas said both he and his ex-wife were 'enormously proud' of their family and said they have 'shared a love that has filled us with happiness during all our years together'.
"Today our love as a couple takes different but not distant paths since we'll continue together in the marvellous task of continuing to be dedicated parents as we contain been up until now," he wrote of their split.
"This is a well-considered decision which we own taken through mutual consent. The respect, affection and friendship will remain for ever.
"Our priority is, through affection and compromise, to share the wellbeing and education of our children and protect them so they grow in a sta
Iker Casillas: Former Real Madrid goalkeeper deletes Twitter publish announcing he is gay
Iker Casillas has said a tweet announcing he was gay, which was published from his personal Twitter account, was the outcome of a hack.
The former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper posted the update to his 10 million followers on Sunday afternoon.
'Hacked account,' Casillas posted. 'Luckily everything in order. Apologies to all my followers. And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.'
Around 30 minutes earlier, the original post - which read 'I dream you respect me, I'm gay' - had been deleted from the account.
Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol had initially responded to Casillas' tweet.
Translated, it read: "It's time to say them about us".
But Puyol also subsequently removed his post following Casillas' deletion.
Puyol later tweeted an apology, which read: "I was mistaken. Sorry for a clumsy joke without any bad intentions but absolutely out of place. I understand that it could have hurt feelings. All my respect and back for the LGBTQ+ community."
A Stonewall Spokesperson said: "It is disappointing to glimpse homophobic 'jokes' being made at the expense of LGBTQ+ player
.