A professional footballer from Namibia has secured the right to remain in Britain after an immigration tribunal determined he would face persecution upon returning to his homeland.
The bisexual man, now in his thirties, was exposed by a male cousin with whom he had been romantically involved while simultaneously dating a woman.
Court documents reveal the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber concluded the asylum seeker was a "public figure" in Namibia due to his football career, meaning he could be identified if sent back.
His identity has been protected throughout proceedings.
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The ruling comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares legislation aimed at restricting human rights claims used by migrants and foreign criminals seeking to prevent deportation.
Following the revelation of his relationship with his distant cousin, referred to as "R" in court papers, the man endured brutal treatment from relatives.
The tribunal heard his grandfather whipped him as punishment, while family members subjected him to sustained verbal attacks and physical violence.
A professional footballer from Namibia has secured the right to remain in Britain after an immigration tribunal determined he would face persecution upon returning to his homeland
|GETTY
The abuse escalated dramatically in 2011 when his great-grandfather kicked him in the groin with such force that he lost his left testicle.
Despite these attacks, the footballer attempted to conform to family expectations and ceased pursuing same-sex relationships, instead focusing on supporting his mother and siblings through his professional career.
A subsequent incident saw him beaten unconscious after being recognised in a bar, prompting his mother to urge him to flee Namibia for his safety.
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The man initially sought asylum in May 2018, but the Home Office rejected his application.
Officials argued that hostility towards same-sex relationships in Namibia was "not true of everywhere and everyone in the country" and suggested he could simply move to a more tolerant region.
The Home Office further proposed he could "if necessary, seek the protection of the Namibian government" should problems arise.
His subsequent appeals were repeatedly dismissed until his case reached an upper immigration tribunal with authority to examine his history in greater depth.
The tribunal was presented with evidence of his relationship with R, which began when both were 18 and playing football professionally, lasting intermittently for approximately a year until 2010.
The footballer has since reunited with the woman he previously dated, who had also relocated to Britain, and they now reside together in Glasgow with their daughter.
Expert witnesses informed the tribunal that no part of Namibia offers safety for openly LGBTQ+ individuals, with one specialist testifying that homophobic attitudes in the country are actually increasing.
Judge Gaenor Bruce determined there existed a "real risk of persecution for the [Namibian asylum seeker] if he chose to live openly" anywhere within his home nation.
In her ruling, Judge Bruce stated: "The decision in the appeal is remade as follows: the appeal is allowed on protection and human rights grounds."