Thomas Hzlsperger: Former Aston Villa player reveals he is gay - BBC Sport

ex england gay player

The former England striker said that he know two gay Premier League players who have been “very close” to revealg their sexualy

Contents:

FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALLER R FERDAND SAYS GAY PLAYER WAS ADVISED NOT TO E OUT BY LAWYER

Former Aston Villa, Wt Ham and Everton midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger announc a newspaper that he is gay. * ex england gay player *

While speakg about the impact of racist abe, the ssn turned towards issu around homophobia and Mr Ferdand said he met a "player who had e out and was advised by a lawyer not to e out and speak". Mr Ferdand add that he felt the attentn on men's football meant was unfair to pare wh how many openly homosexual athlet there were other sports. '"The Football Associatn's director for equaly, diversy and cln, Edleen John, said her anisatn was workg hard to make men's football a more clive environment, and one a gay player would be fortable to e out .

FOOTBALLERS HAVE E OUT AS GAY TO TEAMMAT BUT FEAR PUBLIC BACKLASH, SAYS ENI ALO

Premier League players would still suffer "signifint abe" if they chose to reveal they are gay, warns Football Associatn chairman Greg Clarke. * ex england gay player *

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Readg the Game newsletter sent straight to your box for eeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s ee weekly newsletter Former England Women footballer Enla Alo says there are footballers who have told their teammat that they are gay, but rema too aaid of the backlash that they would face if they were to e out , the current director of women’s football at Aston Villa, spoke on Tuday to the Department of Digal, Culture, Media and Sport select mtee regardg the current levels of diversy across football, both the men’s and women’s experienc drew on the current difficulti that people of a Black, Asian and mory ethnic background face wh the sport, but the 102-p ternatnal was also asked about the trouble that homosexual players face over the cisn to e out has not been a sgle Premier League player who has e out at gay while still playg the top flight of English football, wh the late Jt Fashanu g out 1990 durg his reer while lower-league football and German Tomas Hzlsperger only revealg that he is homosexual after he had lled time on his reer 2014. In stark ntrast, a number of female players are openly gay the Women’s Super League, where Alo pots out homosexualy is far more accepted among fans both at gam and on social Alo said that there are current footballers England who have already told their teammat that they are gay, but will not announce publicly bee they fear the backlash that will e om fans and on social media. We had the tragic se of Jt Fashanu takg his own life, and I do thk ’s gog to take for a player to jt say ‘this is who I am, I’m gay and I’m a great footballer too’ and don’t matter.

”Asked to clarify her claim by Labour MP Clive Effort that there are current footballers who have told their teammat that they are gay, Alo said: “Y that’s Alo says there are footballers who have e out to teammat but not public (DCMS)“I thk there’s been mours and all sorts of newspapers that try to get the exclive on who this player may be. The issue really now is that fear of what fans will do and are gog to say, but I don’t thk that is as legimate a fear as ed to be bee we’re livg a world now where beg gay is somethg that is wily accepted.

Y, you will be subjected to abe on social media as women are, as black people are – there’s so much – but I do thk now let’s say if a current Premier League player out as gay they will be wily praised, appld, ld and rpected.

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

Blackpool's Jake Daniels be the only profsnal footballer to e out as gay, while still playg, for more than 30 years. * ex england gay player *

Alo believ players like Rashford are showg young children that football is open to all (Getty)“The impact that has, there’s gog to be so many ltle Marc Rashfords Manchter that are totally spired by what he did the other week – young boys who probably felt there’s not much gog for me life who are now spired by Marc Rashford the same way that a gay Premier League player g out or a gay player g out around the world who is currently playg, that will have a huge impact on a young gay boys who may like football, who feel ‘I n’t play football’ bee of all the stereotyp around playg football.

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.

Acrdg to The Sun, the ex-player is talks over openg up about his sexualy a Channel 4 show that is currently week Blackpool's Jake Daniels beme the only openly gay male profsnal player Bra. An ex-England and Premier League player uld follow Jake Daniels by g out as gay'They have been talks wh a secretly gay player and are nfint he will participate and e out on the show.

THOMAS HZLSPERGER: FORMER ASTON VILLA PLAYER REVEALS HE IS GAY

While openly gay Liam Davis is backed by his team-mat he thks we're still "two or three years" away om a top-flight player g out. * ex england gay player *

A statement read: 'Jake's announcement will e as a huge fort to the many footballers at all levels of the game - om grass roots to the profsnal leagu - still secretly livg as gay and who still feel unable to e out. You n also e this list of notable gay Brs to start your own people Freebase / Public domaFreddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a Brish sger, songwrer, rerd producer, and lead volist of the rock band Queen. "I'm g out about my homosexualy bee I want to move the discsn about homosexualy among profsnal sportspeople forwards, " he midfielr, who retired om the sport September after a seri of jury problems, said he has only realised " the past few years" that he would "prefer to live together wh another man", addg: "I've never been ashamed of the way I am.

"Jt picture 20 men sat around a table together drkg - you've jt got to let the majory be, jt as long as the jok are halfway funny and the talk about homosexualy don't get too sultg, " he athlet om other sports have openly discsed their sexualy recent years, wh Olympic diver Tom Daley revealg December he was a relatnship wh a exampl football are few and far between.

UNNAMED PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER REVEALS HE IS GAY LETTER BUT SAYS HE N'T GO PUBLIC

Cricketer told Wt Indi’ Shannon Gabriel ‘there is nothg wrong wh beg gay’ * ex england gay player *

In Febary 2013, former Uned Stat and Leeds Uned wger Robbie Rogers said he was gay while Swedish footballer Anton Hysen, son of former Liverpool player Glenn Hysen, announced his homosexualy an terview wh a Swedish football magaze 2011. "Retired basketball star John Amaechi, 43, the first NBA player to e out as gay, doubts other footballers will follow Hzlsperger, tellg BBC Sport "football is toxic" and s culture mt change.

"Every sports star who is willg to speak out mak jt that ltle b easier for gay players and fans, and we hope, a new generatn of footballers will feel nfint enough to be themselv. "The Gay Football Supporters' Network said: "It shows that we are movg one step closer to creatg that atmosphere football where players at all levels would be able to e out should they want to, safely and ee om discrimatn. An unnamed Premier League footballer has revealed he is gay an open letter, but isn't prepared to e out star has opened up about the torment of keepg his sexualy a secret and has aimed the letter at thori and fans, scribg how he is takg a "huge step" revealg his sexualy.

OPENLY GAY PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS WOULD GET 'SIGNIFINT ABE', SAYS FA CHAIRMAN

A GAY former England footballer planng to e out has blasted the cisn to let Qatar host the World ex-Premier League ace is nsirg * ex england gay player *

The unknown star is beg supported by the Jt Fashanu Foundatn, which is n by the former footballer's niece, Fashanu, who played for top flight clubs om the late 1970s to the mid 1980s, was the first profsnal footballer to be openly gay. Ms Fashanu says there are no openly gay or bisexual male profsnal footballers the untry at prent and this revelatn was a "signifint moment and a posive step forward" tacklg this told Sky News: "The fact this player wanted to wre a letter about this is a huge step forward. "In a Digal, Culture, Media and Sport Select Commtee hearg on 7 July, former England women's team footballer Enla Alo said gay male footballers wouldn't risk g out the public doma bee of the homophobic backlash they would said there are current footballers who have told their teammat they are gay, but add: "The issue really now is that fear of what fans will do and are gog to say, but I don't thk that is as legimate a fear as ed to be bee we're livg a world now where beg gay is somethg that is wily accepted.

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER OUT AS GAY

The programme is reportedly the works and would foc on the stori of gay profsnal footballers om the past and prent and let them tell their stori * ex england gay player *

Ex-Aston Villa midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger revealed he is gay after fishg playg EnglandPremier League players would still suffer "signifint abe" if they chose to reveal they are gay, Football Associatn chairman Greg Clarke has was answerg Commons Select Commtee qutns at the ernment's ernance of football quiry.

No male profsnal player has e out while playg England Germany and Aston Villa player Thomas Hzlsperger beme the first player wh Premier League experience to publicly reveal his homosexualy, January 2014, after he had fished playg England women's pta Casey Stoney was the first active footballer to e out England sce Fashanu, Febary 2014. "I would be amazed if we haven't got gay players the Premier League, " Clarke was qutned about a Daily Mirror article om 2015external-lk that claimed two Premier League players, cludg an England ternatnal, had been preparg to e Mirror also alleged a Premier League player me out to his team-mat 2011, but did not go public after a homophobic slur was pated on his, 49, nied knowg the inty of the players - and told the mtee members he would not name them even if he also ced the weekend's League Two fixture between Leyton Orient and Luton Town, at which homophobic chantg was reported, sayg he would "e down like a tonne of bricks" on anyone found guilty.

Former Aston Villa player Thomas Hzlsperger reveals he is gayEngland pta Casey Stoney reveals her sexualy for first time"Before we enurage people to e out we mt provi the safe space where they have the expectatn to play or watch football and not get abed. Media ptn, WATCH: 'I am ready to be myself' - Jake DanielsJake Daniels is the first profsnal footballer the UK men's game for more than 30 years to e out as gay while still playg.

HOW I ME OUT: BRA'S ONLY OPENLY GAY FOOTBALLER

Insir is highlightg out and proud athlet who intify as lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, queer, and more honor of pri month. * ex england gay player *

"Before Jake, Josh Cavallo - who plays for Alai Uned Atralia - was the only openly gay top-flight male profsnal footballer the world, havg e out last do 'g out' mean?

GAY FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALLER PLANNG TO E OUT BLASTS QATAR FOR BEG WORLD CUP HOST

AN ex-England and Premier League footballer uld e out a TV documentary about gay is talks to open up about his sexualy * ex england gay player *

Comg out of the closet, often shortened to g out, is when a person shar wh others that they are lbian, gay, bi and/or trans (LGBT) out is different for everyone and n take some time to get to a pot where someone feels fortable and nfint enough to tell other is this important? Only four male profsnal football players who have played the UK have shared that they were gay - Thomas Beattie, Jt Fashanu, Thomas Hzlsperger and Robbie Jake Daniels, only Jt Fashanu revealed he was gay whilst he was still playg football 1990. The other three shared that they were gay after retirg om after g out Jt Fashanu suffered om homophobic bullyg and harassment before he died do LGBTQ+ stand for?

The + is an clive symbol to mean 'and others' to clu people of all ptn, WATCH: Gay footballers talk about their experienc the game (June 2020)Thomas Beattie, who was a former youth player for English club Hull Cy, said that he felt that he uldn't announce that he was gay while still playg: "I lerally felt like I had to sacrifice one of the two: who I am, or the sport I loved, " he there are now chari and anisatns that mpaign to make football more clive and a safe place for the LGBTQ+ muny. Speakg about how g out will change his life Daniels said: "Of urse I am aware that there will be a reactn to this and some of will be homophobic, maybe a stadium and on social media.

EX-ENGLAND AND PREMIER LEAGUE STAR 'NSIRG' G OUT AS GAY ON TV DOCUMENTARY

* ex england gay player *

Gay footballer Liam Davis adms he has been abed plenty of tim while playg for Gasborough Try, six divisns below the Premier 23-year-old semi-profsnal player (pictured above, blue) has been openly gay for four years and says the snipg the Football Conference North n be, wh one exceptn, most of the sults have been related to his height, which he tak wh a pch of salt. His matter-of-factns on the issue chim wh his cisn to talk hontly as Bra's only male openly gay semi-profsnal or profsnal story me to light the Llnshire Echoexternal-lk after former Aston Villa and Everton player Thomas Hzlsperger beme the first ex-Premier League player to reveal his the former Germany ternatnal, who waed until he retired before g out, Davis nfid players at prev clubs Selby Town and Brigg Town before tellg current team-mat durg a night out last summer.

Not sce 1990, when Jt Fashanu me out and then tragilly took his own life eight years later, has there been an openly gay footballer of renown Brish media has been acced of obssively searchg for a gay profsnal ever sce, often focg on Swedish semi-profsnal player Anton Hysen, son of former Liverpool fenr me out 2011 and was followed last year by former Leeds Uned wger and Uned Stat ternatnal Robbie Rogers, who simultaneoly announced his retirement om football before later jog Major League Soccer team Los Angel Galaxy. "There are lots of thgs to nsir - the media, agents, tens of thoands of opposn fans - so I n unrstand why people would be worried about Davis actn for Gasborough"But lower down the leagu, I n't unrstand why there aren't more gay players, bee you are takg away those issu. "Had he been on the field when Davis was abed for beg gay, Roma says he would have sought retributn "wh the laws of the game" he was jured and says the offendg player whispered the sult so none of Davis's team-mat uld hear.

"Davis is sceptil of the thori' approach to homophobia, believg they should do more to tackle the of the more high profile groups, Football v Homophobia, did not receive any fundg om the Football Associatn last year. While Davis believ football is evolvg, he thks will be "two to three" years before we see a gay player participatg at the top his news filters through the game and to the wir world, Davis is unsure how he will be treated by opposn media reactn has been unexpected but posive, he says, and he has plans to work wh equaly group Kick Out, makg time between football and wag tabl at the Pot Cafe.

GARY LEKER SAYS HE KNOWS TWO GAY PREMIER LEAGUE STARS AND HOP THEY WILL E OUT AT QATAR WORLD CUP

English soccer player Jake Daniels said he is gay on Monday a trailblazg moment for the European men’s game. * ex england gay player *

The England cricket pta Joe Root has been wily hailed for his rponse to alleged homophobic abe after tellg an opponent that “there is nothg wrong wh beg gay” was out the middle durg the third and fal Tt Sat Lucia on Monday when he had a heated altertn wh the Wt Indi fast bowler Shannon the stump microphon did not pick up Gabriel’s ial remarks, he was spoken to about his language by the umpir at the time.

On Tuday night he was charged wh a breach of the Internatnal Cricket Council’s of nduct for g “language of a personal, sultg, obscene and/or offensive nature” UK sport mister, Mims Davi, said Root served huge praise for immediately llg out the remarks and said his actns should “serve as an example to anyone who se homophobic abe” to do the same.

EX-ENGLAND AND PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER ULD E OUT AS GAY NEW TV DOCUMENTARY

“The more players, fans, clubs and anisatns that stand up for equaly sport, the sooner we kick discrimatn out and make sport everyone’s game, ” she Davi, the former England wicketkeeper who me out as gay 2011, appld Root’s stance on Twter. However, his rponse to the bowler’s sledgg was immediate – wh Root tellg the Wt Indian bowler twice “Don’t e as an sult” before addg: “There’s nothg wrong wh beg gay.

GARY LEKER SAYS HE KNOWS TWO GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLERS AND HOP THEY E OUT DURG QATAR WORLD CUPTHE FORMER ENGLAND STRIKER SAID THAT HE KNOW TWO GAY PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN “VERY CLOSE” TO REVEALG THEIR SEXUALYBUZZBOOKMARKSHARECOMMENTSSPORTBYRUAIRI STT BYRNEDEPUTY EDOR17:51, 14 OCT 2022UPDATED15:31, 2 NOV 2022BOOKMARKGARY LEKER ATTENDS AN EVENG WH GARY LEKER, NVERSATN WH TIM MARLOW OBE, AT THE DIGN MM PARTNERSHIP WH THE WICK ON MAY 24, 2022 LONDON, ENGLAND (IMAGE: DAVID M. BET/DAVE BET/GETTY IMAG FOR THE DIGN MM)SIGN UP TO OUR EE EMAIL ALERTS FOR THE BT PROMOTNS SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR E-MAILMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 SIGN UP TO OUR EE EMAIL ALERTS FOR THE BT PROMOTNS SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR E-MAILINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!

ExclivePublished: 21:30, 29 Oct 2022Updated: 21:44, 29 Oct 2022A GAY former England footballer planng to e out has blasted the cisn to let Qatar host the World Cup.

ENGLISH SOCCER PLAYER JAKE DANIELS SAYS HE IS GAY

Earlier this month, Gary Leker said he knew of two gay Premier League footballers and mented would send a strong msage to Qatar if they me out durg the tournament. The programme is reportedly the works and would foc on the stori of gay profsnal footballers om the past and prent and let them tell their storiThe former Premier League star has been talks wh producers over potentially featurg a documentary about gay footballers A former England ternatnal and Premier League star is reportedly ' talks' wh televisn producers over the prospect of g out a new tv documentary about gay profsnal footballers.

ENGLAND PLAYER AND ANOTHER PREMIER LEAGUE STAR SET TO E OUT AS GAYTHEY WOULD BE THE FIRST FOOTBALLERS TO E OUT PUBLICLY WHILE PLAYG THE TOP FLIGHT OF THE ENGLISH GAMEMIRRORBOOKMARKSHARECOMMENTSNEWSBYCLEMMIE MOODIE21:49, 23 OCT 2015UPDATED12:00, 24 OCT 2015BOOKMARKWEMBLEY STADIUM: ENGLAND'S HOME GROUND WHERE THE GAY STAR PLAYS (IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER LEE - THE FA)GET THE LATT TOP NEWS STORI SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR BOX WH OUR DAILY NEWSLETTERMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 GET THE LATT TOP NEWS STORI SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR BOX WH OUR DAILY NEWSLETTERINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!

The news jt days after Blackpool star Jake Daniels bravely beme the first active player to e out as gay the English top-flight more than 30 years - the last beg the late Jt Fashanu. The former Manchter Uned star went on: "What he has jt done tonight tak credible urage - we have both been drsg rooms for many many years and that would seem unthkable to announce that you are gay and I n't image how difficult has been really. Gary Leker has claimed he knows two gay Premier League footballers and said would be "amazg" if they chose to e out durg the Qatar World Cup to send a strong msage to the host natn, where homosexualy remas a former England striker and TV prenter told the Daily Mirror the players had been "very close" to g out before now.

On Thursday, Qatar's World Cup chief Nasser Al Khater sought to give assuranc to LGBTQ+ fans that they would be weled at the tournamentWhile Qatar is not prepared to change anti-LGBTQ+ laws to rpond to ncerns of visg fans, he has sisted none will be discrimated agast durg the 29-day tournament and that gay fans will be allowed to hold hands. Insir is highlightg out and proud athlet honor of the annual celebratn of those who intify as lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, queer, and morn-day stars like USWNT pta Megan Rapoe and WNBA legend, Diana Trasi, are NBA player Jason Pl Colls, former NFL nng back David Kopay, and tennis in Billie Jean Kg were trailblazers their rpective sports.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* EX ENGLAND GAY PLAYER

Former England footballer R Ferdand says gay player was advised not to e out by lawyer | UK News | Sky News .

TOP