http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22341153

Shouldn't really be news in 2013, but there you go

No it shouldn't but it shows that they are afraid of coming out. Though didn't John Fashnu's brother come out years ago?

Justin Fashanu. That would be the brother that ended up committing suicide. Not exactly encouraging. In any case I'm not sure he 'came out' as much as 'was outed'. I'd hope it would be somewhat different today but, as far as I know, there's never been a footballer in the UK who has, of his own free will, publicly declared himself as homosexual. It has happened in other sports, but I think it may be partly because if you were thinking of giving Gareth Thomas any abuse for being gay,you'd not just have to be bigoted, you'd have to have a death wish.

:lol::lol::lol:

I can think of Nigel Owens, probably one of the best Rugby referees in the world as another example that Rugby might be more ready to accept gays than football will ever be. If anyone is interested (and/or welsh), his autobiography makes a great read.

Does seem to be football that's out of step in the UK, there are a couple of professional cricketers who have come out too. The problem may be football will always have the occasional er...Millwall element in the crowd that the others don't really have. Although in theory anyone shouting homophobic abuse in a football crowd could be arrested, I wonder if it was a significant number of knuckleheads if the police would actually do anything.

Jon

I do not care either way. If they were gay then that is their own businesses. It makes no difference as to how they play. I would not be surprised that many sports have many closet gays in their number. It is a shame that they have to hide the fact from their team mates and the public.