Arsenal's Héctor Bellerín talks gay players football: "I don't know if football is ready for that yet"

Contents:

• ARSENAL'S VIVIANNE MIEMA HOP AN OUT GAY MALE FOOTBALLER WOULD BE RPECTED
• ARSENAL’S HECTOR BELLER THE VICTIM OF HOMOPHOBIC SLURS AND SAYS OPENLY GAY PLAYER IS IMPOSSIBLE PREMIER LEAGUE
• ARSENAL’S HéCTOR BELLERíN TALKS GAY PLAYERS FOOTBALL: “I DON’T KNOW IF FOOTBALL IS READY FOR THAT YET”

ARSENAL'S VIVIANNE MIEMA HOP AN OUT GAY MALE FOOTBALLER WOULD BE RPECTED

Havg an out gay or bisexual male footballer the profsnal game who is "fully rpected" would help others, says Arsenal star Vivianne several current top women players who are lbian or bisexual are out, there has still yet to be a high-profile gay or bi equivalent among their male unterparts. Miema - the current PFA Women's Player of the Year, and top srer the Women's Super League - is a relatnship wh her Arsenal team-mate Lisa Aston Villa and Germany midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger first spoke publicly of beg a gay man football 2014 followg his retirement, but men's profsnal football the UK is yet to see an active player do so.

Wh a number of reports of homophobic abe cints at football stadiums recently, tacklg the issue of LGBT-phobia remas a challenge for the Football Associatn and Miema feels havg a proment out gay male footballer would help change perceptns.

"Obvly, I like to thk so, " said the Netherlands ternatnal, when asked if a top men's player g out would help others and make homosexualy ls of a stigma wh the game. The FA has both a 21-page document and a 10-pot plan layg out how they are challengg homophobia and supportg gay players, while mpaigns such as Rabow Lac have creased wir awarens of the issue. "Why do change the player if he is gay or not?

ARSENAL’S HECTOR BELLER THE VICTIM OF HOMOPHOBIC SLURS AND SAYS OPENLY GAY PLAYER IS IMPOSSIBLE PREMIER LEAGUE

Gay Gooners. Gay Gooners is Arsenal Football Club’s official supporters’ group for LGBT+ fans. Gay Gooners exists to provi a social group for LGBT+ Arsenal fans, alli and their iends to meet up, provi a safe and welg space, and mpaign to kick homophobia, biphobia and transphobia out of football.

ARSENAL’S HéCTOR BELLERíN TALKS GAY PLAYERS FOOTBALL: “I DON’T KNOW IF FOOTBALL IS READY FOR THAT YET”

Gay Gooners holds meet-ups near Emirat Stadium before home fixtur, group trips to away gam and anis regular social events.

Gay Gooners’ patron and lifelong Arsenal supporter, edian Matt Lus says he is “immensely proud of and grateful to the club” for s support for the group and how “young gay fans now feel clud by the club a way my generatn never uld”. The club works directly wh members of the Gay Gooners to tackle anti-LGBT+ discrimatn football by vg members to take part cln trag for staff. Gay Gooners also send a team to the club’s annual Arsenal for Everyone tournament at the muny hub.

Two Premier League players are a uple and have e out as gay to their teammat, but not yet, reports suggt the Premier League footballers qutn uld e out a documentary currently productn wh Channel follows Gary Leker recently claimg he was aware of two Premier League players who were thkg of g out as gay soon. Therefore, acrdg to a segment of fans, he is gay and should be showered wh homophobic abe. “There are other kds of homophobic sults.