In a few hours, Korbin Albert discovered the power of social networks and the damage that can be caused by comments, even simply relayed, that are openly discriminatory towards a community, in this case homosexuals and transsexuals.
The 20-year-old PSG women's player, born October 13, 2003 in a suburb north of Chicago (Illinois), went from the status of a simple "soccer" hopeful to that of a young woman symbol of an America (and of a planet) divided between religious opinions and the tolerance necessary for everyone's happiness. All while scoring a crazy goal with PSG on Thursday evening in the Champions League.
✈️ From the other side of the pond ❗
Korbin Albert gives PSG breathing space in this tie.
Watch the UWCL LIVE and FREE on https://t.co/ye55kUaVzk #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/vqgIhe9hbW
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 28, 2024
After her success with Paris and qualification for the semi-finals of the European competition, she apologized with a thoughtful text, recognizing her "immaturity" and her "disrespect" after relaying a young man's speech recounting that “God” had “saved” him from his homosexuality and his feelings of transsexuality.
Coming from a conservative background
Very quickly, those around her presented the gesture of the American international as “unintentional”, ensuring that she simply wanted to share a “live” where the Christian religion was highlighted. Korbin Albert, in fact, comes from a very religious family. “Jesus is King”, she displays on her Instagram account.
Recruited by PSG in January 2023 from the private Catholic university Notre-Dame, in Indiana, a neighboring state to her native Illinois on the shores of Lake Michigan, Korbin Albert is the daughter of Janet Albert, a former university athlete who manages a football academy in the region for twenty years. She has four brothers (DJ, Kyler, Keaton and Landon) and a sister (Teagon) who have all kicked the round ball, although Korbin remains the only one with this upward trajectory.
Korbin Albert (center) celebrated qualifying for the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League with her partners, like Tabitha Chawinga (left), Thursday at the Park. Icon Sport/Baptiste Fernandez
Those close to him share conservative political opinions, which lean, in this year of the American presidential elections, towards the Republican side represented by Donald Trump. The fact remains that Korbin Albert is not described as a politicized young girl.
What reunion with her teammates in the American selection?
His main passion is football and his goals are “to win everything”, starting with a big title with the United States. Having passed through all the youth selections, the former player of the “Fighting Irish” of Notre-Dame won the Gold Cup (equivalent to the Euro for the nations of North America) in February. This summer, Korbin Albert will aim for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games… if she remains in the selection. Because the question should arise on Monday when she reunites with her teammates, including the very committed Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn.
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A post shared by Korbin Albert (@korbin.rose_)
The resonance of this affair does not reach heights either for Korbin Albert, followed by 77,000 people on Instagram. But the words of the legend Megan Rapinoe, who wore the number 15 recovered by the PSG midfielder, gave a whole new importance and will undoubtedly call for a new public apology for Korbin Albert.
“To all those hiding behind their beliefs, I would just ask one question:
Are you making the environment safer and more inclusive, bringing out the best in everyone?
wrote Rapinoe in the story of her Instagram account with 2.1 million subscribers. Because if you don't, all you believe in is hate. And children commit suicide because of this hatred. Wake up, damn it! »
Also read “We immediately hit it off”: Korbin Albert and Eva Gaetino, the two inseparable Americans from PSG
As for the capital club, the American's “errors” will have no consequences. Her teammates and staff appreciate her enormously for her talent on the field as well as for her personality.