John Fashanu regrets how he treated his brother Justin who was the first professional footballer to be openly homosexual

Former Wimbledon of England striker John Fashanu has disclosed that the way he treated his brother after he publicly declared himself as homosexual, remains one of his biggest disappointments.

In a chat with Joseph James Nantomah on the YouTube programme The Metaverse, Fashanu who began his professional career at Norwich City said he is disappointed how he treated his brother, Justin, who passed away in 1998 – having committed suicide.

The English television presenter and former professional footballer said, “I would say, having a brother who came out and said he was homosexual, I’m not going to say that was the biggest disappointment, NO”.

“I’m going to say that how, I treated him and how his tragic death which was suicide prompted by me, I would say, I am disappointed with myself, that’s one of the biggest disappointments, if i could change the clock, reverse the clock it would be wonderful” – The former centre-forward from 1978 until 1995, most notably in an eight-year spell at Wimbledon in which he won the FA Cup in 1988 and scored over 100 goals in all competitions continued.

He added, “to actually be there and see someone you love, someones you are close to, take his own life, “if that could have happened now, it just couldn’t have happened he added.

It was gathered that he paid his brother not to come out and, when Justin did so anyway, John described his gay sibling as an “utter stranger” and said he would not share a post-match shower with Justin if they were on the same team.

According to the Athletic, that John Fashanu publicly reprimanded Justin for speaking openly about his sexuality.

One of Fashanu’s former agents and also one of his dearest friends said. “Justin desperately wanted acceptance. In some ways, he reminded me of a 10-year-old little boy finding his way. He had that wonderment, that humour and that openness but he also had this craving to be accepted. It really hurt him when he did not receive it. Yet he would not back down. He would face it head-on, most of the time. But sometimes he would run and, ultimately, we know he took his life.”

In 2018, he admitted he had acted like a “monster” towards his brother.