More than the Score - Manchester City's Kerstin Casparij: 'Being gay didn't feel normal, until I became a footballer'
Netherlands and Manchester City defender Kerstin Casparij says it's important to her to be a role model to the LGBTQ+ community. Growing up in a small town in the north of the Netherlands, Casparij says she didn't know "being gay was even an option".
Now she has gone on to carve out a successful career in the Women's Super League, starring in a Manchester City side that sit top of the table, she wants to be an ally for others.
The BBC Sport women’s football news reporter, Emma Sanders, explains to Ed Harry how Casparij plans to use her platform to promote inclusivity in women's football.
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Published on Wednesday, 7th January 2026.
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