Blackpool's Jake Daniels, 17, is first active male pro footballer England to e out as gay | Daily Mail Onle

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On Twter “The Gay Footballer” claims to be an English pro-soccer player about to e out. That he’d be one of a kd shows how urgently change is need “the betiful game.”

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BLACKPOOL'S JAKE DANIELS, 17, IS FIRST ACTIVE MALE PRO FOOTBALLER ENGLAND TO E OUT AS GAY

Blackpool FC's Jake Daniels has e out as gay a televised terview today, beg Bra's only openly gay active profsnal player. * daily mail gay footballer *

Blackpool FC's Jake Daniels has e out as gay a televised terview today, beg Bra's only active openly gay profsnal 17-year-old is only the send top-flight Brish football player to e out and he ma the move a bid to tackle the surge of homophobia the sport. ' Pictured: Blackpool FC's Jake Daniels, who is jt 17 years old, has e out as gay a televised terview today Speakg to Sky Sports (pictured above), 17-year-old Jake Daniels said he felt the time was right and he was ready to e out The only openly gay man to have played English soccer's profsnal leagu was Jt Fashanu, who was not active at a high level when he ma the announcement 1990. The ex-Nottgham Fort and Norwich Cy striker was found ad at 37Josh Cavallo, 22, who plays for Atralian team Alai Uned, me out as gay last year to then bee the only out pro the players have e out after their reers were over, cludg former Aston Villa player Thomas Hzlsperger, 40, and ex-Hull Cy youth's Thomas Beattie, 35.

Daniels, who has been wh Blackpool FC sce the age of seven, said he first realised he was gay at the age of five or six but thought would be somethg that would change as he got olr bee football and beg gay 'didn't really mix' told Sky Sports: 'I've had girliends the past to try and make all my mat thk that I'm straight and was jt a massive ver up so has been a stggle.

WORLD CUP ONE LOVE ARMBAND BAN: GAY FOOTBALLER LLS BAN A 'DIRECT ATTACK' ON LGBTQ MUNY

The Olympic divg champn will tell the natn his Channel 4 Christmas Day speech that his 'one wish' for 2022 is a Premier League footballer to e out as gay next year. * daily mail gay footballer *

Cavallo beme the first known current top-flight male football player the world to e out as gay October an emotnal and wily-praised vio, he said was done wh feelg ashamed about his sexualy and the exhstn of tryg to live a 'double-life'.

'FORMER ENGLAND AND PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER ULD E OUT AS GAY NEW TV DOCUMENTARY'

EXCLUSIVE BY STEPHEN MCGOWAN: The first openly gay Sttish footballer has nmned ments by a World Cup ambassador brandg homosexualy 'damage of the md'. * daily mail gay footballer *

Elsewhere the sport, one of the hight-profile male football players to publicly e out as gay sce Fashanu is German footballer Thomas January 2014, Hzlsperger me out as gay one year after he had retired while terviewg Die Ze, a German newspaper.

Hzlsperger was pped 52 tim by Germany and ma appearanc the 2006 World Cup and 2008 is a rary team sports for men to announce they are Wal pta Gareth Thomas was the first active gby profsnal to e out 2009, two years before he retired, and has bee a source of spiratn across of the most proment gay athlet Bra is Olympic divg champn Tom Daley who spired former England soccer pta Casey Stoney to e out is ach of the San Diego Wave after managg the women's team at Manchter Uned. The 17-year-old me on as an 81st mute substute and is now the first openly gay active profsnal football player if he thought was somethg he had to hi, he said: 'Yeh I thk so obvly bee there's no one out that I do need to hi and wa until I've retired to maybe e out but I jt knew that that was such a long time of jt lyg and not be able to have what I want. The 17-year-old forward Jake Daniels (pictured) is the only active openly gay male profsnal player Bra The world of football heaped praise on Blackpool forward Jake Daniels, pictured durg his senr but, after he me out Imprsed: Sky Sports' Gary Neville (pictured above) has praised Daniels and said that is 'a big, big moment for football''It is a day of great importance for football and tak unbelievable urage.

JAKE DANIELS: WHY BLACKPOOL PLAYER’S CISN TO E OUT AS GAY MATTERS

It is believed by many that male profsnal footballers are not openly gay or bisexual parison to female players. Read on to fd out more about the homosexual male players football history. * daily mail gay footballer *

' A host of players and clubs have shown their support for Jake Daniels, pictured, after he me out as gay this afternoon Jake Daniels has been wh Blackpool FC sce he was seven (pictured for the U18 squad) and ma his senr but this yearDaniels signed his first profsnal ntract wh Blackpool Febary and ma his Champnship but earlier this health secretary W Streetg tweeted: 'This shouldn't need urage today's day and age, but do. Daniels, pictured durg his terview, said he realised he was gay when he was jt five or six Josh Cavallo, who plays for Atralian team Alai Uned, me out as gay last year to bee the only out pro the worldCommentg on the announcement this afternoon, Amal Fashanu, said: 'The Jt Fashanu Foundatn would like to mend Jake for the immense bravery he has shown today by takg this step makg his sexualy public.

'Cavallo beme the first known current top-flight male football player the world to e out as gay October an emotnal and wily-praised vio, he said was done wh feelg ashamed about his sexualy and the exhstn of tryg to live a 'double-life'. 'All I want to do is play football and be treated equally, ' he to Twter, former England striker and BBC Match of the Day prenter Gary Leker led an outpourg of public support for the player, sayg he is hopeful Cavallo's actns will 'erase the fear others may have' of g out as gay.

TOM DALEY SAYS HIS 'ONE WISH' IS THAT A PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER OUT AS GAY 2022

Veteran LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell has revealed for the first time that he dated gay footballer Jt Fashanu the 1980s.  * daily mail gay footballer *

'I know for a fact there are gay players at the World Cup': Stland's only openly gay footballer Zanr Murray lls ban on OneLove armbands a 'direct attack' on LGBTQ+ munyZanr Murray has brand FIFA's crackdown on armbands as a 'direct attack'The striker, 31, h out at erng body's 'sanctns' agast the players Speakg on Good Morng Bra, he exprsed worry for LGBT people QatarClick here for the latt World Cup 2022 news, fixtur, live actn and rults Updated: 11:43 BST, 22 November 2022.

Stland's first openly gay footballer has slammed FIFA's crackdown on OneLove armbands as a 'direct attack' on the LGBTQ+ Murray voiced his disappotment wh the erng body's 'sanctns' and sisted that 'you really n't attack the players here' after the threat of a yellow rd proved too much of a risk for the FA. The sports star (pictured September) also exprsed his worry for LGBTQ+ dividuals Qatar - where the World Cup is currently takg place Zanr Murray (pictured) voiced his disappotment wh the erng body's 'sanctns' and sisted that 'you really n't attack the players here''There will be gay players the World fact, I know for a fact there is, ' he add. The striker for Gala Fairyan Rovers (pictured September) also nmned earlier ments om a Qatar World Cup ambassadorZanr listed fear of backlash and 'ternalised homophobia' as reasons he didn't e out earlier, admtg he would have done so 'years earlier' if he wasn't a footballer.

PREMIER LEAGUE STAR SAYS HE IS GAY AN OPEN LETTER... BUT ADMS ONLY HIS FAY AND IENDS KNOW

The Alai Uned midfielr announced that he was gay a vio posted to the team's Twter acunt Tuday. * daily mail gay footballer *

Former England and Premier League footballer 'uld e out as gay a new TV documentary' followg Blackpool star Jake Daniels' announcement this weekAn ex-England and Premier League player uld e out as gay The player is talks over appearg a new Channel 4 documentaryJake Daniels beme the openly gay male profsnal player Bra Updated: 00:31 BST, 22 May 2022. Tom Daley says his 'one wish' is that a Premier League player out as gay 2022 Channel 4 'Alternative Christmas msage', as the Olympic gold medal wner cricis hostg next year's World Cup 'unsafe' QatarTom Daley has been chosen to do Channel 4's 'Alternative Christmas Msage'The diver says his one Christmas wish is for a Premier League player to e outThere is only one male profsnal player currently playg who is openly gayAtralian Josh Cavallo is the only gay player out of 650, 000 profsnal starsIn his speech, Daley will highlight the World Cup beg staged Qatar next yearQatar, whose World Cup England have qualified fo, has a poor LGBTQ+ rerd Updated: 22:35 BST, 24 December 2021.

'Tom Daley will say his 'one Christmas wish' is for a Premier League player to e out 2022 his Channel 4 speech There is only one profsnal male footballer who is openly gay - wh none English footballThere has been no openly gay footballer Premier League history who me out durg his playg days, but some - for example ex-Aston Villa midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger - have announced their homosexualy after they retired. Atralian Josh Cavallo (above) is the only profsnal footballer currently playg who is openly gay after his g out October Olympic champn Daley (left, wh hband Dt Lance Black) is one of Bra's most famo gay sportsmenMeanwhile, the English Women's Super League has several openly gay footballers across several squads.

An unnamed Premier League footballer has revealed that he is gay an open letter – but is keepg his sexualy secret om his the open letter, which is aimed at thori and fans, he opens up about the daily torment he is currently facg and says he is takg the 'huge step' of revealg his sexualy.

STLAND'S ONLY GAY FOOTBALLER NMNS WORLD CUP AMBASSADOR FOR 'HURTFUL' HOMOPHOBIC MENTS

The footballer add that his sport is not ready for a player to announce he is openly gayThe men were Robbie Rogers, who played for Leeds Uned om 2006 to 2017, and Thomas Hlzberger, who played for Aston Villa, Wt Ham and Everton between 2001 and 2013. I am too foced on ’s when I get back on the plane or the ach and I have time to thk that gets to thgs stand my plan is to rry on playg for as long as I feel able to and then e out when I have was great last month to see Thomas Beattie raise his hand and adm to beg gay. And lls for backlash after 'attack'A Qatar World Cup ambassador brand homosexualy 'damage of the md'Head of Secury for the World Cup also issued warng about hardle stanceHomosexualy is illegal the Islamic natn, wh jail terms of up to seven years Click here for the latt World Cup 2022 news, fixtur, live actn and rults Updated: 01:25 BST, 15 November 2022.

The first openly gay Sttish footballer has nmned ments by a Qatar World Cup ambassador brandg homosexualy 'damage of the md' Fairyan Rovers striker Zanr Murray cid to go public on his sexualy wh an announcement on the Lowland League si's webse back September.

JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990

Zanr Murray has nmned a Qatar World Cup ambassador for 'hurtful' mentsHomosexualy is illegal the Islamic natn, rultg jail terms of up to seven years, while wispread cricism has also foced on the sert natn's treatment of migrant workers and women. Hopeful that the backlash might prompt a relaxatn of laws which impose jail terms of up to seven years prison for homosexualy, Murray add: 'You mt abi by the laws of the untry you are tournament has been engulfed ntroversy over human rights issu Qatar'You n't hold hands and you have to rpect that regardls of your sexualy. Photograph: Pl Dennis/TGS Photo/ShutterstockDaniels’s revelatn is a strikg landmark that when men’s football is more engaged wh social issu than any recent time, but still unable to ce progrs LGBTQ reprentatn wh the year Alai Uned’s Josh Cavallo beme the only male top-flight profsnal footballer the world to e out as gay, but others are yet to follow.

In six months the men’s World Cup will be played Qatar, where homosexualy is illegal, and Cavallo revealed to the Guardian he would be “sred” to play at the tournament, the pnacle of world English football specifilly, the shadow of the talented and unfulfilled Fashanu still lgers over the game.

TWO GAY PREMIER LEAGUE STARS 'ARE TO E OUT BEFORE THE START OF NEXT SEASON'

The England ternatnal me out at the end of his reer and was to take his own life eight years later, Fashanu, Jt’s niece, who ns a charable foundatn his name, said that Daniels’s cisn would “e as a huge fort to the many footballers at all levels of the game still secretly livg as gay and who still feel unable to e out”. Some female footballers like to keep their relatnships on the down low, be bee they are private general, unsure of their sexualy or fearful of what n be an, at tim, horrifilly homophobic reactn om fans and even fluential figur. Pernille Harr (Denmark) and Maglena Eriksson (Swen) Denmark pta Pernille Harr and partner Maglena Eriksson, a fenr for Swen, have been vol advot for gay rights and better visibily for LGBTQI+ people sport A superstar tr: Harr (left) wh Asie gun Sam Kerr (centre) and partner Eriksson after a Chelsea w May.

Her partner, Swe Magdalena Eriksson, is held such high standg she ptaed the star-studd Chelsea si that won 10 trophi durg her 180 appearanc pair, who have been together for almost 10 years, have sce moved to Bayern Munich to chase even more trophi as one of the most talented power upl world football sce meetg while teammat at Swedish club they are also well aware of the fact they are role mols for gay women everywhere, and even ntribute one per cent of their salari to PlayProud, a global iative that aims to make sports safer for LGBTQI+ people. Two gay Premier League football stars, cludg England ternatnal, 'are to e out before the start of next season' Two premier league footballers to announce they're gay before next seasonThey would be first to e out while still top flight of English footballOne is an England ternatnal player and both have backg of their clubsSee the latt news and rults om the Premier League Published: 10:51 BST, 24 October 2015 | Updated: 18:49 BST, 25 October 2015.

Two Premier League players are preparg to e out as gay - which would make them the first Brish footballers to make the announcement while still playg at the top levels of the of the men is believed to be an England ternatnal star and both have already told their fai and iends and have the full support of their rpective clubs and the Football Daily Mirror reports the men will e out publicly before the start of the next down for vio One of the men is believed to be an England ternatnal star and both have already told their fai and iends and have the full support of their rpective clubs and the football associatn (file image)A source told the newspaper: 'The stigma has pletely gone and the public are far more acceptg. Nottgham Fort and Norwich Cy striker Jt Fashanu remas the hight profile star to reveal he was gay, but he suffered years of abe and eventually killed himself 1998 aged Nottgham Fort and Norwich striker Jt Fashanu (left) me out as gay but suffered so much abe he killed himself 1998. Former Wt Ham player Thomas Hzlsperger, right, me out as gay after he retiredMore recently the pta of England women's team, Casey Stoney, announced she was gay, shortly after former Germany and Aston Villa midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger me out.

ACTIVIST PETER TATCHELL REVEALS HE DATED TRAGIC GAY FOOTBALLER JT FASHANU

'German football star Hzlsperger said diver Tom Daley's acknowledgement that he was a same-sex relatnship helped him to e out as German ternatnal midfielr beme the first Premier League star to reveal he was homosexual, sayg that he had recently accepted that he 'preferred men'. England Women's football pta Casey Stoney (pictured left) is openly gay and Welsh gby player Gareth Thomas (right) me out 2009Hzlsperger, who end his playg reer September 2013 due to persistent juri, said that other sportsmen's revelatns about their sexual orientatn, cludg those of Tom Daley, had ma him feel that he was not former Aston Villa, Wt Ham and Everton player said he had also felt empowered by Welsh gby player Gareth Thomas, who publilly announced he was gay 2009, and John Amaechi, who beme the first NBA (Natnal Basketball Associatn) player to speak out about his homosexualy.

’Diver Greg Louganis (pictured left) and tens player Marta Navratilova have both e out as gayDonal Og Cack (hurlg) - The much-rated Irish star is one of the leadg lights of the fast-paced Gaelic game, and beme the first ele Irish sportsman to reveal he was gay his tobgraphy, 'Come What May', released last year.

GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER TOO SRED TO PUBLICLY E OUT

’Diver Tom Daley (pictured left) and footballer Robbie Rogers, who now plays for Los Angel GalaxySteven Davi (cricket) - The England and Surrey wicketkeeper beme the first active profsnal cricketer to openly adm to beg gay Febary 2011. Uned and Mnota Uned FC Major League Soccer, and for Richmond Kickers and Hartford Athletic the Uned Football me out as gay June 2018, makg him the only out man any of the big five Amerin sports leagu or any top-divisn profsnal men's natnal soccer, 26, shared the news on Twter, notg he had been openly gay to his iends and fay for years, but never on such a large platform. 'Mart's announcement ma him one of only two openly gay players Major League Soccer - the other beg Robbie Rogers, who retired shortly after his announcement but me back to play Tto was the first player to e out as a gay man, makg the announcement shortly after his retirement said his cisn to e out on an ternatnal stage was ma 'much easier' by the 'kdns and acceptance' om his fellow players.

All sorts of well-tend but ultimately unhelpful terventns om heterosexual players – who eher oped that gay players would benef om g out or utned agast – did not exactly fill him wh nfince that this was ed the right former ternatnal, who played the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Champnship, matas that he did not have to lie about his sexualy and that teammat eventually stopped askg about his lack of a girliend. After partg Grimsby Town, Liam went onto play for Selby Town, Brigg Town, Gasborough Try, and most recently Cleethorp Town, who he reprented the 2017 FA Vase Fal at January 2014 Davis bee the UKs hight profile openly gay December 2017, Davis publicly cricized ments ma by FA chairman Greg Clarke that "profsnal players who out themselv as homosexual would be takg a risk.

"Davis urged other homosexual soccer players to e out publicly and not fear a 32-year-old has spoken out enuragg male gay footballers not to worry about g out, sharg his own experienc as part of Uefa’s Equal Game mpaign, to foster greater cln and diversy the midfielr admted receivg abe om opponents, but sists football’s attus to homosexualy are creasgly UrbanMarc Urban, born 4 Augt 1971, is a former German football player.

JOSH CAVALLO BE ONE OF THE FEW PROFSNAL MEN'S FOOTBALLERS TO E OUT AS GAY

He has spoken publicly about the difficulti that gay footballers’ experience and he is now a spokperson and mpaigner on diversy issu sport and the was sent to a sports boardg school at age 13 and played for the natnal youth teams the 1990s before settlg at send divisn club Rot-Weiss Erfurt.

Berlg's se was ced several tim the upg years, as the nnectn between homophobia and sport was discsed the natnal media now and FashanuJt Soni Fashanu (19 Febary 1961 – 2 May 1998) was an English footballer who played for var clubs between 1978 and 1997. HomeSportFootballIn BriefIn a letter via the Jt Fashanu Foundatn the player says football has ‘not moved on’A gay Premier League footballer is too sred to publicly e out bee he feels that football has not “moved on” pared to the rt of society. The foundatn which tak his name says “issu around his sexualy were at the heart of his problems and there is no qutn that the prejudice he enuntered eventually led to his ath” niece Amal Fashanu ns the foundatn and the Daily Mail reported May that ’s offerg support to five secretly gay footballers.

The acunt apparently belongs to the footballer ncerned, and burst to life on July 5, wh a tweet announcg that he was an EFL (English Football League) player, that he had e out to his fay, that he was unr 23, and was “a proud gay man, hopg to break the mould. ” He would soon e out publicly, he July 6, The Gay Footballer revealed that he had e out to his club’s manager and chairman, and received their support, and their mment to ensurg that he has the right support om wh the club and outsi when he out.

‘THE GAY FOOTBALLER,’ REAL OR NOT, CHALLENG ENGLISH SOCCER TO CHAMPN LGBT EQUALYWINNING GOALON TWTER “THE GAY FOOTBALLER” CLAIMS TO BE AN ENGLISH PRO-SOCCER PLAYER ABOUT TO E OUT. THAT HE’D BE ONE OF A KD SHOWS HOW URGENTLY CHANGE IS NEED “THE BETIFUL GAME.”TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED JUL. 18, 2019 8:52AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 18, 2019 4:45AM EDT OPNPHOTO ILLTRATN BY THE DAILY BEAST/PHOTO GETTYWE ARE HERE AGA. A MALE ENGLISH PROFSNAL SOCCER PLAYER IS REPORTEDLY ABOUT TO E OUT AS GAY, AND THE TICK-TOCK HAS BEGUN ON THIS HISTORIC EVENT. THERE ARE NO PROFSNAL MALE FOOTBALLERS PRENTLY PLAYG ENGLAND WHO ARE OUT. THE G OUT WOULD CERTALY BE TIMELY, H AFTER THE WORLD CUP SUCCS OF THE U.S. WOMEN’S TEAM AND S MANY OUT-PLAYERS: MEGAN RAPOE, ASHLYN HARRIS, ALI KRIEGER, ADRIANNA FRANCH, TIERNA DAVIDSON, AND ACH JILL ELLIS. THAT IS, IF THE PERSON BEHD “THE GAY FOOTBALLER” TWTER ACUNT IS FOR REAL. THE ACUNT APPARENTLY BELONGS TO THE FOOTBALLER NCERNED, AND BURST TO LIFE ON JULY 5, WH A TWEET ANNOUNCG THAT HE WAS AN EFL (ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE) PLAYER, THAT HE HAD E OUT TO HIS FAY, THAT HE WAS UNR 23, AND WAS “A PROUD GAY MAN, HOPG TO BREAK THE MOULD.” HE WOULD SOON E OUT PUBLICLY, HE ADD. ON JULY 6, THE GAY FOOTBALLER REVEALED THAT HE HAD E OUT TO HIS CLUB’S MANAGER AND CHAIRMAN, AND RECEIVED THEIR SUPPORT, AND THEIR MMENT TO ENSURG THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT SUPPORT OM WH THE CLUB AND OUTSI WHEN HE OUT. HIS PLAYG AND POSN WH THE TEAM WILL NOT BE AFFECTED, HE WAS ASSURED. HIS LATT TWEET ELICED MORE HEADL. POSTED ON JULY 15, SAID THAT THE FOOTBALLER TENDS TO E OUT “AS SOON AS POSSIBLE” AND “I AM LOOKG TO GOG PUBLIC PRR TO THE START OF THE NEW SEASON.” HE HOP THAT OTHER CLOSETED LGBT PRO-SOCCER PLAYERS “N TAKE FORT AND HOPE OM SUCH DISCLOSURE AND N FEEL SUABLY EMPOWERED TO, IF SIRABLE, REACH THE SAME CISN.”HE ADD THAT HE HOP HE WILL ENURAGE OTHER GAY PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE GAME, OR THOSE WHO FELT THEIR SEXUALY PREVENTED THEM OM PLAYG . HIS G OUT, HE SAYS, HE HOP WILL BE A “TALYST FOR CHANGE.”SO WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN? THE NEW SOCCER SEASON STARTS AT THE BEGNG OF AUGT, SO IF THE GAY FOOTBALLER IS FOR REAL, THEN WE N EXPECT THIS MOMENTO G OUT TO HAPPEN WH THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE HOVERED SUCH TANTALIZG TERRORY. IN 2015, TWO STAR PLAYERS WERE MORED TO BE ABOUT TO E OUT. BACK THEN, MANCHTER UNED (AND ENGLAND) PLAYER LE SHAW NIED HE WAS ONE OF THEM.THE BUZZ AROUND THAT SUPPOSED G OUT ECHOED THE CURRENT BUZZ AROUND THE GAY FOOTBALLER. “THE STARS ARE THOUGHT TO BE PLANNG TO GO PUBLIC BEFORE THE START OF NEXT SEASON,” BRA’S MIRROR REPORTED. “WE N ALSO REVEAL THAT ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN PLAYER ME OUT TO IENDS 2011. BUT A HOMOPHOBIC WORD WAS THEN DBED PAT ACROSS HIS R. IT IS UNRSTOOD HE IS NOW RELUCTANT TO E OUT PUBLICLY SE HE IS THE TARGET FOR MORE ABE.”JT AS WH THE GAY FOOTBALLER, THOSE PLAYERS—ONE AN ENGLAND TERNATNAL—WERE UNRSTOOD TO HAVE ALREADY TOLD FAY AND IENDS, AND, THE MIRROR REPORTED, WERE BEG SUPPORTED BY THEIR CLUBS AND THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATN. THEY DID NOT E OUT. PRENTLY, THERE IS NO PREMIERSHIP PLAYER WHO IS OUT.THE GAY FOOTBALLER, IF GENUE, WOULD BE MAKG SOCCER HISTORY, FOLLOWG THE PATH OF ROBBIE ROGERS, WHO BEME THE SEND SOCCER PLAYER BRA TO E OUT (AFTER JT FASHANU, WHO ME OUT 1990 AND DIED BY SUICI 1998). ROGERS PLAYED FOR L.A. GALAXY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT 2017. EX-ASTON VILLA MIDFIELR THOMAS HZLSPERGER RETIRED BEFORE HIS 2014 ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS GAY.EARLIER THIS YEAR, CHELSEA AND ENGLAND PLAYER RUBEN LOFT-CHEEK NIED, VIA TWTER, THAT HE WAS A GAY PREMIERSHIP PLAYER: “ANY PLAYER WHO ME OUT AS GAY, THEY’D HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AND RPECT. BUT THE MOR ISN’T TE.”AND SO THE MYSTERY NTU, AND QUE NATURALLY THE QUTN OF “WHO” SUPERSES THE LS SEXY, WORDIER QUTN OF WHY HAS TAKEN SO LONG, AND DON’T THE LACK OF OUT PLAYERS 2019 SHOW THAT FOOTBALL—BOTH ANIZATNALLY AND AMONG S FANS—SHOULD GET S HOE ORR, AND NONT AND EXPUNGE THE HOMOPHOBIA THAT HAS PREVENTED A PLAYER OM G OUT UNTIL NOW?THIS STANDS TE, WHETHER THE GAY FOOTBALLER IS FOR REAL OR NOT. THE FACT THAT HAS TAKEN SO LONG FOR A FOOTBALLER TO E OUT TELLS EVERYTHG ABOUT THE PREJUDICE THAT STILL EXISTS THE GAME. “WHY SHOULD ONE FOOTBALLER BE EXPECTED TO BE A LONE STANDARD-BEARER? SHOULDN’T FOOTBALL BE ABLE NONT S HOMOPHOBIA WHOUT THE NEED OF A GAY FOOTBALLER TO SHOW THE WAY? IF DID, MIGHT THERE BE MORE OUT-GAY FOOTBALLERS BY NOW?” WHAT KD OF RPONSE WILL THIS FIRST GAY FOOTBALLER GET OM HIS TEAM, BOSS, AND THE FANS ON THE TERRAC? WHY IS THE IMMEDIATE STCT TO WORRY ABOUT THE THGS? WHY SHOULD THAT FOOTBALLER HAVE TO WALK THIS PATH ALONE HIS CHOSEN REER? HE WILL BE UNR THE MOST IMMENSE PRSURE TO BE BOTH A PERFECT PLAYER AND A PERFECT AMBASSADOR. HE WILL, LIKE A LOT OF LGBT PEOPLE PUBLIC LIFE, BE UNR AN TENSE MICROSPE, AND BE EXPECTED TO SAY AND DO THE RIGHT THG. THE PROBLEM WH SO FEW LGBT PEOPLE OUT FOOTBALL (AND OTHER AREAS OF WORKG LIFE) IS THERE THE NAME OF THE MYSTER PERSON’S TWTER ACUNT—THAT PERSON BE THE GAY FOOTBALLER.WHY SHOULD ONE FOOTBALLER BE EXPECTED TO BE A LONE STANDARD-BEARER? SHOULDN’T FOOTBALL BE ABLE NONT S HOMOPHOBIA WHOUT THE NEED OF A GAY FOOTBALLER TO SHOW THE WAY? IF DID, MIGHT THERE BE MORE OUT-GAY FOOTBALLERS BY NOW?THERE ARE SOME POSIVE DITORS AT THE TOP OF THE GAME. AS EXCLIVELY REPORTED BY THE DAILY BEAST, AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP RSIA, THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATN BACKED THE LGBT SUPPORTERS’ NTGENT, THREE LNS PRI, WH S RABOW-THEMED SUPPORTERS’ BANNERS AND SRV. BACK THEN, AN FA SPOKPERSON NFIRMED TO THE DAILY BEAST THE FA’S ENDORSEMENT OF THE BANNERS AND SRV, AS WELL AS THE FA’S SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ+ SOCCER FANS TRAVELG TO RSIA AND THEIR “IMPORTANT” PRENCE AT THE WORLD CUP SUPPORTG ENGLAND.THE FA SPOKPERSON SAID: “WE HAVE BEEN BUILDG LKS WH LGBT+ FAN GROUPS BY G ENGLAND HOME GAM AS A FOL POT. WE NTUE TO SUPPORT THEIR GOOD WORK, AND BACK THEIR E OF A THREE LNS RABOW CRT AT THE ENGLAND GAM AT THE FIFA 2018 WORLD CUP.”THIS PAST SUNDAY, IF THE ACUNT IS TO BE BELIEVED, THE GAY FOOTBALLER MET WH HIS CLUB AND WAS HEARTENED BY THEIR SUPPORT. THE CLUB UNRSTANDS, THE THOR WROTE, THAT ORR FOR A PLAYER TO PERFORM AS WELL AS THEY N, ’S IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE “AT PEACE” WH THEMSELV.HE HAS E OUT TO HIS FAY, AND THANKS THEM THIS LATT TWEET FOR THEIR SUPPORT, AND THANKED ALL THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO HIM ACROSS MASTREAM AND SOCIAL MEDIA.HE NCES THE MANNER OF HIS “WAYS” TO E OUT, VIA THIS TWTER ACUNT, IS “UNORTHODOX,” BUT IF THIS IS REALLY A GAY PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER, THEN HE IS CLEARLY TERMED TO DO THGS HIS OWN WAY. “MY HOPE IS SIMPLY TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THE REER AND DREAM I HAVE HAD SCE CHILDHOOD, WHILE SIMULTANEOLY BEG PERMTED TO BE TE TO MYSELF.”— THE GAY FOOTBALLER WHAT IS RTG ON HIS SHOULRS, AND WHAT HE WANTS FOR HIMSELF, SH ANOTHER LIGHT ON THE CURRENT FAILURE OF THE GAME TO ADDRS S STUTNALIZED PREJUDICE.“IT IS NOT A PERSONAL SIRE TO BE PERCEIVED AS A PNEER OF ANY KD,” THE GAY FOOTBALLER WR. “MY HOPE IS SIMPLY TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THE REER AND DREAM I HAVE HAD SCE CHILDHOOD, WHILE SIMULTANEOLY BEG PERMTED TO BE TE TO MYSELF.”THAT, S SIMPLICY, ULD BE SAID FOR MANY LGBT PEOPLE THEIR PLAC OF WORK. THAT LGBT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO STATE THAT AS A WISH, AS AN AMBN AND ASPIRATN SELF, IS A SHAMEFUL DICTMENT OF WORKPLAC, ANIZATNS, AND SOCIETY SELF. EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK, AND NOT FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO NCEAL WHO THEY ARE.THE FOOTBALLER IS “NFINT,” HE SAYS, HIS CISN TO “PLACE WH THE PUBLIC DOMA THAT I AM GAY AND TEND TO NTUE MY REER AS A PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER.” “HIS PRE-G OUT TWEETS SHOULD SERVE AS AN IMPET FOR FOOTBALL, ANIZATNALLY, TO SIGN A MPAIGN AROUND HIS G OUT TO NOT JT SUPPORT HIM, BUT SUPPORT OF LGBT EQUALY AS A WHOLE, AND AS A STRONG, ORDATED EFFORT TO BAT HOMOPHOBIA.” IF HE IS FOR REAL, THEN HIS TERMATN, AND SENSE OF PRI, IS TO BE NGRATULATED. AND ONE HOP THAT HIS ONLE BUILD-UP TO THE BIG DAY SERV OTHER IMPORTANT TALYTIC PURPOS. IF THIS IS FOR REAL, ONE WOULD HOPE HE DO NOT E OUT ALONE; THAT OTHER GAY PRO-FOOTBALLERS MIGHT JO HIM. HIS PRE-G OUT TWEETS SHOULD ALSO SERVE AS AN IMPET FOR FOOTBALL, ANIZATNALLY, TO SIGN A MPAIGN AROUND HIS G OUT TO NOT JT SUPPORT HIM, BUT SUPPORT OF LGBT EQUALY AS A WHOLE, AND AS A STRONG, ORDATED EFFORT TO BAT HOMOPHOBIA. WHATEVER, IF HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS, THE GAY FOOTBALLER SHOULD NOT BE DOG ANY OF THIS ISOLATN. AND THE TE TT OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL’S RPONSIBILY TO SUPPORT HIM—AND S SUCCS DOG SO—WILL BE THE FIRST GAM HE PLAYS AFTER HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND WHAT CHANTS E OM THE TERRAC. ONE WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN THIS B OF LGBT HISTORY IS MA THAT FOOTBALL AND S FANS WILL BE AS FOCED ON DOG THE RIGHT THG AS THE GAY FOOTBALLER IS. TIM TEEMAN

Prently, there is no Premiership player who is Gay Footballer, if genue, would be makg soccer history, followg the path of Robbie Rogers, who beme the send soccer player Bra to e out (after Jt Fashanu, who me out 1990 and died by suici 1998). ”And so the mystery ntu, and que naturally the qutn of “who” superses the ls sexy, wordier qutn of why has taken so long, and don’t the lack of out players 2019 show that football—both anizatnally and among s fans—should get s hoe orr, and nont and expunge the homophobia that has prevented a player om g out until now?

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER, 17, OUT, BEG ONLY OPENLY GAY MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER BRA

The club unrstands, the thor wrote, that orr for a player to perform as well as they n, ’s important that they are “at peace” wh has e out to his fay, and thanks them this latt tweet for their support, and thanked all those who have reached out to him across mastream and social nces the manner of his “ways” to e out, via this Twter acunt, is “unorthodox, ” but if this is really a gay profsnal footballer, then he is clearly termed to do thgs his own way. "Davis disagre wh Football Associatn chairman Greg Clarke, who said profsnal players who announce they are gay would be takg a said last year that he would not advise a footballer to e out while still playg bee of the abe they would face om the terrac and social footballer Davis me out to team-mat early his reer and reckons the sport's attu to homosexualy is creasgly progrsive, although no player the Premier League or Football League is openly gay.

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