Thomas Berling

Thomas Berling (born 21 January 1979) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a defender.^[1] His retirement from football sparked media attention.

Thomas Berling

Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-02-21) 21 February 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Drevvassbygda, Norway
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position	Defender
Youth career
	Nardo
	Lyn
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2000	Lyn 2
1999	Lyn	3	(0)
2001–2002	Drøbak/Frogn
International career
1998	Norway U19	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

He hails from Drevvassbygda.^[2] He played for Nardo FK, and joined Lyn ahead of the 1999 season. He played three games in the second highest Norwegian league,^[1] and also played for the under-19 national team.^[3]

In 2000, he disappeared from professional football. It later surfaced that he had come out as gay, and that he quit football as a result of what he described as widespread homophobia in the football community.^[3] In 2001, he briefly came out of retirement, playing for lower league Drøbak/Frogn IF.^[3]

Berling's case was cited several times in the upcoming years, as the connection between homophobia and sport was discussed in the national media now and then.^[4][5][6]

See also

• Athlete Ally
• Homosexuality in sports
• Principle 6 campaign