Giambrone attends a reception in Speaker's House

Giambrone attended the Launch of Football Offences Act Amendment Bill at Speaker’s House

Giambrone was delighted to be invited to a reception in the Speaker’s House to celebrate the launch of the Football Offences Act Amendment Bill to vary the Football Offences Act to make homophobia in football a criminal offence in the same way as racism. 

The invitation came from Gareth Thomas, the retired Welsh rugby international and Damian Collins MP.  Gareth Thomas came out as gay during his playing career, has worked tirelessly to address the question of homophobia in sport in general, football in particular.  After an intense campaign and a documentary “Hate in the Beautiful Game”, a Private Members’ Bill will be put to the House to make homophobia illegal within a football ground.  Giambrone assisted the cause by preparing and drafting a voluntary Code of Conduct for professional and amateur football clubs which provides guidelines as to how to ensure that homophobia is properly addressed both within the club itself and within the ground. 

Gabriele Giambrone said “we were delighted to play a part in Gareth’s quest to address the glaring oversight in the Football Offences Act and bring about this very necessary amendment”

The reception was held in the beautiful rooms in the Speaker’s House and the Speaker, John Bercow, attended and gave his support to the Bill.  Also attending was Gordon Taylor of the Professional Footballers’ Association and a senior representative of the Referee’s Association.