Burnley boss Sean Dyche opens up on homophobia in football in revealing interview

Burnley boss Sean Dyche gave his views on everything from football to homosexuality in sport in an open interview.

The Clarets chief was talking to Alastair and Grace Campbell in their Football, Feminism and Everything in Between podcast and shared his views on a range of subjects.

Alastair Campbell is a well known Burnley fan and active in politics while his daughter Grace is a feminist and comedian.

The pair spoke to Dyche on a range of topics in their latest episode, ranging from homophobia in football to which Burnley players don't have tattoos and the lack of Ben Gibson's playing time.

We take a look at what was discussed and you can listen to the full interview on Alastair Campbell's website.

On tattoos and who hasn't got one at Burnley

"It is a marvel of the modern game, everyone has a tattoo thinking they are different but everyone has got a sleeve.

"Now and again in the warm ups we go 'how many non tattoos are there?'

"I know there is about five, I don't think Westy has got a tattoo. I am not anti-tattoo, I just don't understand it.

"You can start believing in these things more than you believe in the job, the car and the lifestyle can become bigger than the job.

"It can just swerve you off your path, it is not the tattoo, all these little things can take the edge away from the job and it become confusing."

On homophobia

"Education is changing all the time on that. Yet again it’s a generational thing, generational standards now are way different to when I grew up in the 70s. We all know the story of Alf Garnett on the TV and all of that stuff.

“What I don’t like is when people are measured by the standards now than 30 years ago. I think it’s completely unfair and all the things we talk about whether it is homophobia, race, feminism, it’s a completely different era. That is one thing to be sure of.

“The next thing I’m more concerned about is not about homophobia, it’s about the drive for the next gay footballer, but think about it, the next gay footballer might not want to be that person that is ''Look I am a gay footballer’ – imagine the noise of that."

He added: “If a gay footballer did come out now and he was in my changing room, there would be nothing in it at all.

“I would just go ‘Are you a really good footballer? Well let’s crack on then’.”

On how fans would react to a player coming out

“I don’t know, I can’t speak for every fan.

“Is every fan going to accept everything, is every fan going to accept every change?

“You can’t judge every football fan the same because they are all from such massive generational shifts.

“My parents who I think were really good parents use completely odd terminology now than what modern life suggests and yet that doesn’t make them bad people.

“They just go ‘Oh I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to say that anymore’.

“I’m struggling with it myself by the way - what you are allowed to say and not allowed to say. That’s one thing that I am really confused about.

"Their view would be different because of the generational difference."

On signing foreign footballers

“Personally I just want good footballers. We have had it with 'why don't you sign any foreign footballers?' I would sign someone from outer Mongolia if I knew he was brilliant at football and we knew they were brilliant and we knew about their character and their background and the finance worked.

"But taking a risk at Burnley Football Club on a £20m footballer, and then two years later he hasn't settled and it hasn't worked. That is not the Burnley way. There is a bit more to it."

On the influence of his children

“My daughter is 13, my lad is 16, I think they are reasonable children, reasonably minded.

“Listening to them helps massively with my education and I think that is refreshing.

“I have my views on life of course but as I say I have come from a different generation - they fill in the gaps.

“They speak to me about things and I think ‘Oh yeah I never thought about that’.

"Even gadgets, they are up to date with the internet where I think the worst and they can go, 'look at all this amazing stuff we have found out.'

"That's if you listen, and I do listen to my kids, probably more than they think.

"It just blends you into modern society.”

On Ben Gibson's lack of game time

"I personally never guarantee shirts, as in you are going to play.

"If I meet a player I am not telling him you are definitely going to play so he knew that.

"He wasn't naive, if you look at Ben Mee and Tarky, they are decent and Kevin Long as well. He is looking that there is a challenge there but he wanted to be in the Premier League and we gave him that chance but equally now he is in the Premier League he has to earn the right to play.

"He was unfortunate with injuries to start which affected his chances early season when the team were not going as well.

"In my opinion it is basics, speak to them, explain to them and tell them the truth. I am not saying that is foolproof but the manager told me the truth."