My brother Justin wasn't gay, he just wanted attention, says Fashanu

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UPDATED:

18:52 GMT, 16 March 2012

Denial: Fashanu claims his brother Justin (above) was not gay

John Fashanu has sensationally revealed that he doesn’t believe his brother Justin was gay.

Former Wimbledon striker and TV presenter, John, has spoken in depth about his brother – who became the first professional footballer to come out in 1990 – in a candid interview with talkSPORT.

‘I don’t believe he was gay. Number two, I don’t believe he had affairs with MPs and number three I don’t believe he was having an affair with one of the young ladies from Coronation Street – it was just nonsense. Showbiz,’ said Fashanu.

‘If you had a brother who came out and said, “Hey listen, I’m gay” we’d welcome you, say “No problem” but if you had someone who came out and said, “I’m a spaceman” when you’re not a spaceman then that’s a bit silly.

Justin remains the only professional footballer to have come out in this country, and his brother believes that will remain the case.

‘It’s a macho man’s game and I think there are reasons why we haven’t had any gay footballers come out,’ he said.

‘I don’t believe there will be. I’m not saying there aren’t some there, but I can tell you in twenty years of playing all my matches I have never come across a gay footballer.

Strained relationship: John admitted he didn't get on with his brother

‘I’m not someone who says, “I’ve got
black friends, they’re all good people.” I’m not going to say “I’ve got
gay friends, who are all good people.” It’s unfortunate because I don’t
believe he was, and if he was, who gives a rat’s a*** So what But
don’t go and sell your stories or make up stories for money for goodness
sake. I’m heterosexual, will I make it on to the front page of the
newspapers'

Fashanu added: ‘My daughter was very close to her uncle and it has taken a long time for her to understand that Justin wasn’t really gay, he just wanted attention. I remember Justin coming out with another story about him dating Coronation Street lady as well. Again, that was another made up story to get front pages. When I said this to Justin he’d say, “I need publicity, I need publicity.” That was where he’d derive his attention and his money.

‘It wasn’t the fact of him being gay, or whether he’s white or whether he’s black, that was never a concern to me whatsoever. What was a concern to me was somebody going and screaming on the rooftops ‘I’m black’ or ‘I’m heterosexual’ or ‘I’m gay’ to get publicity or money. Making up stories to get attention.’

Tragedy: Justin committed suicide in 1998

Fashanu also revealed that his relationship with with his brother was strained around the time of Justin’s suicide in 1998.

‘Strained, I would say,’ he said. ‘I had to look at my mother who had cancer at the time, I had to take the mantle of being head of the family because Justin was not acting accordingly. My mum could not understand for the life of her she couldn’t understand this man, her son, so I made it clear that I could do whatever’s necessary to protect my family.

‘Some people might say it’s selfish, my daughter said to me, “You’re my Daddy, I love you, but you were selfish, you disowned your brother.” I said, “I didn’t disown my brother, but I pushed him further away because of the challenges that he was going to bring into our family.”’