Inclusive Masculinities in Contemporary Football: Men in the Beautiful Game

This ground-breaking study draws on in-depth empirical, qualitative research to explore masculinity and homophobia in contemporary football. Based on unprecedented access to English Premier League academy-level players, the book offers the closets possible insight into attitudes towards homophobia in professional football and the importance of ‘banter’ in the development of relationships and identities. Revealing a range of masculine behaviours never before empirically measured at this level, the book discusses the implications for the complex and enclosed structures of professional sport, and extends our understanding of contemporary masculinity.