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John Blankenstein Foundation nominated for MVP Award: ‘You can only get the best out of yourself if you can be yourself’
The John Blankenstein Foundation has been working for many years to create a footballing world in which everyone can be themselves. Yet founder Karin Blankenstein recognises that acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people is under pressure.
The John Blankenstein Foundation has been working for years to create a world of football in which everyone can be themselves. However, founder Karin Blankenstein recognises that acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people is under pressure. The foundation has been nominated for the 2026 MVP Award, which recognises initiatives that promote inclusion, accessibility and diversity in football. Assistant referee and expert by experience Kevin Bodde surprises Karin with the news.
John Blankenstein, after whom the foundation is named, was openly gay, something that is rare in the world of football. He wanted to use his experiences to make the sport more accessible to others. But before he could carry out his plans, he passed away. His younger sister Karin decided to carry on his dream. Karin: „The fact that his name and his dream are still alive in the sport means a great deal to me.”
Differences in behaviour
Everyone should be able to take part in sport without fear of being rejected for who they are. That was John’s dream. Through the John Blankenstein Foundation, Karin is making that dream a reality. The foundation organises workshops at amateur clubs, professional football clubs and sports academies. During these sessions, participants discuss sexual diversity, acceptance and whether everyone truly feels at home at the club.
According to Karin, the latter is still a major challenge: „Everyone says that everyone is welcome. But when you then ask whether there are any gay players at the club, there’s often silence. You have to wonder why that is.”
Karin, who played football herself for many years, saw just how differently homosexuality can be treated. „I played in a women’s team myself, with both lesbian and heterosexual women. If someone ‘came out’ – as they used to say – that was fine. Afterwards, we’d just get back to playing football. It was all about whether we were going to win the match, not who you were attracted to. In men’s football, things are often still different.”
