Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">CARSON, Calif. — The tattoo, pete and scripted cursive, reads: “Nature ran her urse.” Megan Rapoe had the phrase wrten on her left biceps long ago, and as dk falls upon her vibrant soccer reer, the words sound like a prophecy fulfilled.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Notice the distctn om the sayg, “Let nature take s urse.” There is no ht of docily the Rapoe variatn, no submissn to lettg life happen whout ristance. On her sk is a remr to be fortable her sk. In a world that n torment and rtra, Rapoe is who she was tend to be: bold, empathetic and unavoidable. She is a master of meetg nsequential moments. She is a natural in.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Jt <a href=" target=_blank>months om retirement</a>, Rapoe enters her fal World Cup a supportg role. Instead of receivg major playg time and beg asked to repeat her Goln Ball heroics om the Uned Stat’ 2019 triumph France, her greatt rponsibily may be to “lead the lears,” as U.S. women’s natnal soccer team ach Vlatko Andonovski lik to say. Rapoe nnot be her own sunset; she mt relish wh others. For a player who enjoys good vib as much as srg goals, is an appropriate way for her n to end.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class=""><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:0.5625;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark ml-gutter mr-gutter" data-qa="vio-ptn">This World Cup is the last for some of the players on the USWNT, cludg Megan Rapoe. What is the legacy they'll leave on and off the field? (Vio: Joshua Carroll/The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I uld have never imaged where this betiful game would have taken me,” Rapoe said recently while announcg her retirement.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">She let nature play tour gui, but she kept an eye on her pass. She found a way — a better way — by tstg her standards of humany. She created a lane to be at peace while strivg for stardom as an openly gay woman who exprs herself eely on and off the field.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">At 38, Rapoe is 20 years olr than teen prodigy Alyssa Thompson, an exaggerated example of the shift occurrg on the dynastic U.S. women’s team and throughout the sports world durg a perd of nstant goodbye-wavg to legends. As Rapoe prepar to part, she necsat somethg beyond the standard salute. Wh dogged flair, she has moled a new prototype for female superstars. There is new room for women to be dac, not jt cute and mure. There is room to be unapologetilly petive and unaaid to offend.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-VkPmP hi-for-prt"><div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As <a href=" target=_blank>Angel Ree</a> and <a href=" target=_blank>Cal Clark</a> showsed durg the NCAA basketball tournament, the next generatn is flntg thenticy and range. The athlet reject rather than appease those who look at them wh a disapprovg gaze. Outsi of Serena Williams, Rapoe has been as fluential as anyone her era at creatg that space. And she is peerls among morn athlet her stama to take stands agast social jtice.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Rapoe has given her body, cludg two ACL juri llege, to soccer. She has received env treasur: two World Cup tl, an Olympic gold medal, ternatnal fame. But she will leave behd an valuable template for self-posssn.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“As ol as you thk she’s gog to be, you meet her, and she’s even oler,” said U.S. fenr Alana Cook, who also plays wh Rapoe for NWSL club OL Reign. “They say don’t meet your hero. I thk everyone should meet Poe.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“For someone as globally renowned and as important and popular as she is, what’s special about her is she mak every sgle person feel important and feel like they have her time. She mak everyone feel like they n be themselv, and they n show up as who they tly are.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As a young U.S. forward, Rapoe learned an endurg lson om Kriste Lilly, whose natnal team experience spanned 23 years and 354 appearanc. Lilly, a member of the revered 1999 World Cup champnship squad, overlapped wh Rapoe, her early 20s, before she retired 2010.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Back then, Rapoe was stgglg to keep up wh the veterans. She whimpered over to Lilly, who Rapoe says “uld probably still outn all of to this day.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I’m sure I was not dog very well and plag about how hard was and how easy looked for her,” Rapoe said. “And she jt looked me ad the face and was like, ‘It’s hard for everyone.’ ”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The words stuck. Rapoe expand their meang, g them to strengthen her rolve and to be aware of people endurg hardships around her. Crics may try to dismiss her as a ntroversy addict, as if she uld possibly enjoy all the tnts and ath threats and social media graffi. But realy, she hasn’t been able to skip a fight — whether was for <a href=" target=_blank>equal pay and genr equaly</a>, <a href=" target=_blank>Black Liv Matter</a> or supportg transgenr athlet — bee the woman who lls herself “crazy ltle Megan” has crazy good tentns. If she unrstands ’s hard for everyone, then what’s her exce for beg different?</p></div><div class="article-body grid-body grid-center" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-SEUFi wpds-c-SEUFi-iblNTCR-css"><div data-ttid="re-roel-ntaer" role="group" aria-rolescriptn="roel" class="wpds-c-jQxwKe wpds-c-jQxwKe-idyBywr-css"><a href="#end-react-aria-1" class="wpds-c-iSKIAI wpds-c-iSKIAI-iedmEYU-css">Skip to end of roel</a><div class="absolute right-0 pa-md h-100 z-1 poter-events-none" style="top:0;background-image:"></div><div class="flex-ns jtify-between ems-center" aria-hidn="te"><h6 class="wpds-c-bcjwkI">World Cup 2023</h6></div><div data-ttid="roel-ntent" data-qa="roel-ntent" class="wpds-c-cubdkx overflow-xscroll"><div data-qa="roel-em-0" data-ttid="roel-em-0" class="wpds-c-bYoKkr snap-start flex-none" style="marg-right:0px" role="group" aria-rolescriptn="sli" aria-label="1 of 1"><div class="wpds-c-iKoytf wpds-c-iKoytf-iduqwxX-css"><div class="wpds-c-iMKICq wpds-c-iMKICq-ihPoHKF-css"><div><div class="wpds-c-cXHzQF wpds-c-cXHzQF-dLfCpM-alignment-left wpds-c-cXHzQF-fGHEql-isCBCentered-false wpds-c-cXHzQF-hJqGmt-cv"><span style="box-sizg:borr-box;display:le-block;overflow:hidn;width:ial;height:ial;background:none;opacy:1;borr:0;marg:0;paddg:0;posn:relative;max-width:100%"><span style="box-sizg:borr-box;display:block;width:ial;height:ial;background:none;opacy:1;borr:0;marg:0;paddg:0;max-width:100%"><img style="display:block;max-width:100%;width:ial;height:ial;background:none;opacy:1;borr:0;marg:0;paddg:0" alt="" aria-hidn="te" src="data:image/svg+xml,></span><img addnal_properti="[object Object]" alt_text="" ptn="" ptn_display="" pyright="The Washgton Post" subtle="Women's World Cup 2023: Landg Page" type="image" url=" _id="6WR366N4VNHIVHOAR4NT6XS7FQ" aspectRat="3/2" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" dg="async" data-nimg="trsic" style="posn:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizg:borr-box;paddg:0;borr:none;marg:to;display:block;width:0;height:0;m-width:100%;max-width:100%;m-height:100%;max-height:100%;background-size:ver;background-posn:0% 0%;filter:blur(20px);background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http%3A//; xmlns%3Axlk='http%3A//; viewBox='0 0 1280 853'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' lor-terpolatn-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGssianBlur stdDeviatn='.5'%3E%3C/feGssianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA type='discrete' tableValu='1 1'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage filter='url(%23b)' x='0' y='0' height='100%25' width='100%25' xlk%3Ahref='data%3Aimage/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAkAAAAGCAIAAACepSOSAAAACXBIWXMAAC4jAAAuIwF4pT92AAAAs0lEQVQI1wGoAFf/AImSoJSer5yjs52ktp2luJuluKOpuJefsoCNowB+kKaOm66grL+krsCnsMGrt8m1u8mzt8OVoLIAhJqzjZ2tnLLLnLHJp7fNmpyjqbPCqLrRjqO7AIeUn5ultaWtt56msaSnroZyY4mBgLq7wY6TmwCRfk2Pf1uzm2WulV+xmV6rmGyQfFm3nWSBcEIAfm46jX1FkH5Djn5AmodGo49MopBLlIRBfG8yj/dfjF5TUAAAAASUVORK5CYII='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E'")"/><noscript><img addnal_properti="[object Object]" alt_text="" ptn="" ptn_display="" pyright="The Washgton Post" subtle="Women's World Cup 2023: Landg Page" type="image" url=" _id="6WR366N4VNHIVHOAR4NT6XS7FQ" aspectRat="3/2" srcSet=" 1x" src=" dg="async" data-nimg="trsic" style="posn:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizg:borr-box;paddg:0;borr:none;marg:to;display:block;width:0;height:0;m-width:100%;max-width:100%;m-height:100%;max-height:100%" loadg="lazy"/></noscript></span></div></div><div><div class="wpds-c-jIpZwk">See full verage of the <a href=" target=_blank>FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023</a>.</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="re-roel-pagatn-arrows"></div></div><span id="end-react-aria-1" class="sr-only" data-ttid="sr-only">End of roel</span></div><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Everybody stggl different ways,” Rapoe said. “We’re not all gog to stggle the same — on the field, off the field, emotnally, physilly, mentally.”</p><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Even when she’s makg a pot, Rapoe will pse to learn. Seven years ago, when she <a href=" target="_blank">cid to take a knee durg the natnal anthem</a> solidary wh former NFL quarterback Col Kaepernick, sparked ep nversatns wh Crystal Dunn, a Black teammate. Dunn was jt as ncerned about police btaly and racial equaly, but as a newer she didn’t thk she had enough U.S. Soccer chet to make a statement, pecially bee Rapoe’s stance had put the star at odds wh the feratn. So Dunn stood, famoly next to a kneelg Rapoe before a match. When photographers ptured the image, beme fodr for the ignorant, who poked fun at the woke Whe woman dog what a Black woman wouldn’t.</p><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Dunn felt she uldn’t, actually. When she lived the experience through Dunn, Rapoe saw the many layers of urage and privilege. Rapoe’s bold was a safer bold. It’s hard for everyone, but n be harr for others. She unrstood the signifince of beg a famo Whe athlete willg to sacrifice some of her populary.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“As much as meant to me, thk about what said to future players, who were kids and teenagers and are here now,” Dunn said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Said Cook, a 26-year-old participatg her first World Cup: “I thk she’s someone who will ri as hard for a e that affects her as one that don’t, which is really special. It’s what mak her such a good lear. It’s what mak her such a good human, to be empathetic and see the humany others and fight for . I thk ’s always worth takg the venom, takg the phback when you know that you’re on the right si, when you know that you’re fightg for people who need .</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“And when you’re 38 and your playg days are almost over, I mean, how do you hope people talk about you?”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Rapoe will retire October, but she don’t plan to disappear. She certaly won’t be silent. As an athlete, she has ed creativy, panache and a knack for big-stage excellence to boost her legend. Those tras fuel her disptive powers, and they are jt as potent whout cleats.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In her soccer afterlife, the dissint aspir to be a different kd of thory figure. She wants to tap to her entreprenrial stcts, and she wants to do for eedom, not greed. After years spent challengg systems, she wants to build new on.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Megan has been workg toward steppg off the pch for about three years now,” said Jsi Clarendon, the chief operatg officer of Rapoe Ventur whose relatnship wh the player dat om their days playg high school basketball agast each other California. “She saw that she uld build a bs around who she is. Her retirement is tentnal. She wants to create a blueprt for what a post-reer n look like for female athlet now.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Rapoe has a Nike signature clothg le. She started the productn pany A Touch More wh her fiancée, basketball legend Sue Bird, to produce scripted and unscripted ntent focg on stori of activism and inty and people om unrreprented muni. They hope to center revolutnary figur and e storytellg to embed social progrs to culture.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The loquac Rapoe has a pet phrase: “Wele to the future.” She says often when sharg her visn to leverage her fame to create clive bs.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“She wants to build thgs that n sta outsi of her star power,” Clarendon said. “That will allow other people to be succsful. She’s terted ownership to be a gatekeeper dtri that are largely gate-kept by men who are Whe. She wants to show what succsful bs n look like whout leavg people behd.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“She is, some ways, a morn-day prophet. She se the world what’s not yet seen. She wants to make this world her md and her imagatn to a realy.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In June, <a href=" target=_blank>the Seattle Storm retired Bird’s No. 10 jersey</a> durg a postgame ceremony that lasted nearly three hours. Rapoe and rapper Macklemore, a Seattle native, emceed the event. More than 2½ hours to the epic event, Bird tried to articulate what Rapoe meant to her.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“You’ve changed me,” Bird told her that day. “You’ve changed my life. You’ve changed how I see thgs. You brought out of me. It was there. I jt didn’t know how to get to . And you saw right away.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The Rapoe effect don’t jt spire dacy. There’s a peace about her, even amid chaos, that attracts people. And when they get close to her, the nnectn is upliftg. Wh Rapoe, Bird intified her nature. She disvered her urse. And she followed wh pri.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It’s more of jt a lm my experience,” Bird said. “It feels jt way better when people know who you are, what you stand for, what you’re about. It seems like a simple thg, but so much blocks you om beg you. It’s not that way anymore.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-VkPmP hi-for-prt"><div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">On their own, Rapoe and Bird ma an lible impact. But their six years as a uple, they have been nscent change agents. Although Rapoe accentuat dividualy wh her lorful hairstyl and brash celebratns, she functns bt wh a team. In this inic pairg wh Bird, Rapoe sh when need.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“She has an unwaverg abily to rise to any ocsn,” said Dan Levy, her longtime agent and a vice print at Wasserman. “It’s extraordary. I’ve worked wh some of the most credible people — Hall of Famers, legends, the bt who have ever done — but Megan is the only one wh <a href=" target=_blank>a Printial Medal of Freedom</a>. That’s different. She’s jt different all the right ways.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Bird mt help Rapoe say goodbye now. Before the ESPYs, Bird joked Rapoe had “retirement FOMO” (fear of missg out) om watchg the pot guard move on wh grace. Soon, will be Rapoe’s time. She jt needs to help the U.S. team bridge s past and future.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It’s a show-up-and-show-out kd of vibe,” Rapoe said of this World Cup.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The battl of 2019 have already been won. U.S. Soccer fally has equal pay. <a href=" target="_blank" class="ntextual_lk">Donald Tmp</a>, whom Rapoe still jabs when reporters ask about him, has too many prsg legal matters to unterpunch effectively wh the soccer star. Rapoe may not have an enemy to target this time. Opponents will have to do.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In the first 32-team field women’s World Cup history, the players will be able to see the game’s growth. It is a worthy send-off for a fighter such as Rapoe.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I don’t want to be fightg the way that we are,” she said. “It shouldn’t be necsary, but so many ways, is. I thk what I see as the goal for is not the parison or an arrival pot bee that’s jt a nstant parison to men’s sports and that goal post will jt always be moved. But I thk for , ’s unrstandg that nothg ever stays the same, and you have to be nstant motn and nstant progrs. As soon as we know one thg, we have more knowledge for somethg else and then an opportuny to ntue to be better, to brg more people , to make more space for people to be their full selv.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“So I thk that’s somethg that’s so unique and powerful about women’s sports and jt the landspe around women’s sports. What’s happeng on the field is always jt as important as what’s happeng off. I thk we have shown that we have the power to change the world so many ways. I thk as we’ve seen the world change around , the more that we e our voice and create space for ourselv, we’re always creatg space for other people also.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Rapoe, a 5-foot-7 giant, is the queen of creatg space. Her nature. Her urse. She’s still nng, hard and ee. When she stops and looks behd her, she will be moved by all the magic young women dog the same.</p></div><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css mt-md grid-center grid-body"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div></div></div></article><div class="centered-layout grid-layout"><div class="grid-center grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div class="hi-for-prt ml-to mr-to mt-md pt-lg recirc" data-qa="recirc"><div class="flex-l jtify-center hi-for-prt"><div class="pr-sm ml-sm ml-0-ns b-l br-l bc-gray-darkt more-om-post"><div></div><div class="dn db-l pb-md pt-md"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-2-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-2-aria">Loadg...

are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league

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In 1990, Jt Fashanu beme the first football player to publicly e out as gay. Sce then, only seventeen players have done the same.

Contents:

WHY THERE ARE STILL NO OPENLY GAY FOOTBALLERS THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Fifa’s U-turn over the OneLove armband this week reflects a wir lack of support for gay players Brish football * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

Fifa’s U-turn over the OneLove armband this week reflects a wir lack of support for gay players Brish football. Nearly 25 years after Jt Fashanu took his own life, followg years of homophobic abe, Brish football still has not had another openly gay player the top flight.

The armband was never much of a gture, but would have been a small act of fiance at the tournament beg award to Qatar, where homosexualy is punishable by imprisonment and some s, ath.

GRAEME SOUNS EXPLAS WHY THERE ARE NO OPENLY GAY FOOTBALLERS THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND REVEALS TNAL VIS TO BRIGHTON PRI PARA

* are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

“Pathetic, ” said Blackpool forward Jake Daniels, the only out gay player the English league, on Instagram after hearg the news.

It was 32 years ago that Fashanu me out as the first openly gay profsnal footballer. Sce Fashanu’s ath, there have been untls iativ to stamp out homophobia the stands and support gay footballers.

Former footballer Clarke Carlisle, a proment spokman for player welfare, said eight Premier League players had told him they were gay. Yet none the Premier League are out, and Daniels is the only out gay player the English league.

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

EXCLUSIVE: Coll Mart has opened up on the barriers that may be stoppg gay players the Premier League om publicly g out. * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

“Football is a socially nservative world, ” says Ross Rais, whose novel, A Natural, is about a gay footballer. Consir the se of (heterosexual) Graeme Le Sx, who played for Chelsea and England the 1990s and 2000s and was brand “gay” for admtg he read The Guardian.

8 MALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO DARED TO COME OUT AS GAY

Openly gay Leeds Uned director David Haigh says players nfid him - and he believ clubs uld benef mercially if stars e out * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

Fans tnted him wh homophobic chants and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler famoly waggled his backsi at Le Sx durg a match. This week, Fifa is vtigatg the Ecuadorean fans over allegatns of homophobic chantg. The clubs and the FA have ma efforts to improve the culture wh iativ such as Kick It Out, which mpaigns agast discrimatn and Football v Homophobia, backed by the FA, which offers support to fans, grassroots teams and top-level clubs.

PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLERS OPENLY GAY RELATNSHIP AMID WORLD CUP NTROVERSY

Watford striker Troy Deeney says there’s probably at least one gay or bisexual player on every team the Premier League. * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

Blackpool forward Jake Daniels is the only openly gay player the English league. Even where men’s sport has had one or two high-profile gay players, as wh Gareth Thomas gby unn, they rema outliers.

HONEST Graeme Souns explas why there are no openly gay footballers the Premier League and reveals tnal vis to Brighton Pri paraPublished: 9:44, 9 Dec 2019Graeme Souns believ football has created an ‘unfortable environment’ for gay players. Former Wt Ham and Aston Villa midfielr Thomas Hzlsperger beme the first openly gay Premier League player - but he only me out 2014, a year after retirg om the game.

"There mt be gay and bisexual players the Premier League but nobody has felt nfint enough to say 'this is me'. The European Cup-wng midfielr ma his name playg the 70s and 80s, s durg which racism and homophobia were rife.

17-YEAR-OLD SOCCER PLAYER OUT, BEG THE UK'S ONLY OPENLY GAY PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER

Amal Fashanu, whose uncle was Bra's first and only openly gay male profsnal footballer, tells Sky News the foundatn dited to him is offerg support to two Premier League players who are yet to e out publicly. * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

The Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has end s of silence wh men’s football to bee the first player the UK to e out as gay sce Jt Fashanu 1990. 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.

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”. But tak guts to e out and reveal one’s genr as gay, which is ually an act of urage a world that is not ndned to accept every genr. Seventeen male footballers have urageoly revealed their sexualy as gay public so far.

Even though has already been three s sce Jt Fashanu first publicly me out as gay, there are only a few of them revealg . The primary reason behd many gay footballers not revealg their sexualy publicly is fear of homophobia on and off the pch.

GAY FOOTBALLER EXPLAS WHY PREMIER LEAGUE STARS AREN’T G OUT - EXCLUSIVE

There are gay footballers the Premier League who have e out to teammat but fear a homophobic backlash om fans, an sir has said. * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

So, many profsnal leagu, teams, and players are raisg their voic to fight back agast homophobia so that gay footballers don’t face backlash while g out. Now, whout any further ado, let’s list the football players who dared to e out as gay publicly.

Moreover, Andy Brennan is the first Atralian male footballer to openly disclosed beg gay. Currently, he is the only openly gay football player to play any of the Amerin top 5 major leagu. In 2020, durg the San Diego Loyal match agast Phoneix Risg FC, Mart released a story of homophobic sults directed toward him.

AT LEAST 20 FOOTBALLERS PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPNSHIP ARE GAY BUT THEY'RE AAID TO E OUT SAYS EX-CLUB BOSS

The former England striker said that he know two gay Premier League players who have been “very close” to revealg their sexualy * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

One of the hight-profile male football players publicly clarg himself as gay is German footballer Thomas Hzlsperger. In January 2014, Hzlsperger me out as gay while terviewg Die Ze, a German newspaper.

His fellow German players supported his cisn to announce himself as gay publicly. Later, after wng the 2014 MLS Cup, Rodgers also beme the first gay male to w the league tle the USA.

In November 2011, an terview wh Canadian broadster Rad Canada, Tto me out as gay. Moreover, David Tto is the first profsnal Amerin male profsnal footballer to e out as gay.

BRISH PREMIER LEAGUE PTA SAYS THERE’S ‘PROBABLY’ AT LEAST ONE GAY OR BI PLAYER ON EVERY TEAM

Blackpools Jake Daniels tells his story to Sky Sports about beg the UKs first male profsnal footballer to e out publicly as gay sce Jt Fashanu 1990 * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

In 2019, he was also featured a documentary related to homophobia sports named Standg on the Le.

Tto is a You Can Play mpaign advisory group fightg to elimate homophobia the sportg world. Anton Hysen is the youngt son of retired Swedish footballer Glenn Hysen and one of the gay players football. Later, he was profiled on Swedish broadstg channel TV4 March 2011 a bate show (Can gays play football too?

Likewise, he also participated the 7th edn of the realy TV show Lets Dance and beme the first-ever gay to w the ntt. The documentary Rise Above is a film on Anton Hysen released 2013 to portray his story as gay.

GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER 'VERY LIKELY' TO E OUT NEXT YEAR, SAYS JT FASHANU'S NIECE

Patrice Evra has claimed there are at least two gay footballers at each club the world, but he believ some of his former teammat were aaid to e out due to homophobic at * are there any openly gay footballers in the premier league *

But as one of the gay players football, Rouyer is dog his bt to fight homophobia France. In 1990, Jt broke the barrier the footballg World when he clared himself gay publicly the newspaper. Later, on 22nd October 1990, The Sun Tabloid newspaper published the headle “£1m Football Star: I AM GAY”.

After his ath, The Pk Paper ranked Jt Fashanu the 99th spot the Top 500 Lbian and Gay Hero. Likewise, The Jt Fashanu All-stars football special event started Brighton to honor him and promote homosexualy football.

In June 2020, former profsnal footballer Tomas Beattie me out as gay durg an Amerin sports channel ESPN terview. Furthermore, he is one of the send Brish football players to publicly e out as gay after Jt Fashanu did 30 years ago. Siarly, Richarlyson Barbossa Felisbo om Brazil also revealed his genr as gay openly.

THERE ARE GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLERS WHO HAVE E OUT TO TEAMMAT BUT FEAR HOMOPHOBIC BACKLASH OM FANS, SAYS SIR

The above list of players plet our list of 8 footballers who dared to e out as gay.

TWO PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS ' RELATNSHIP' AND OPEN WH TEAMMAT ABOUT BEG GAY

Although there are more than 17 gay footballers, they are aaid of g out publicly. Therefore, a suable environment should be created through tn as a drivg factor, so gay footballers don’t feel prsured to reveal their sexualy. This is a hot topic particularly bee the host natn, Qatar, is known to crimalise homosexual relatns.

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!

Now, has been revealed that two Premier League teammat are a gay an exclive story by The Sun, the two Premier League footballers are reportedly open about beg a gay relatnship, at least as far as the drsg room go. Earlier this month, the Qatari ambassador to the UK had warned same-sex upl not to kiss public if they will travel to watch the World, World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman ed outrage last week after sayg that beg gay is tantamount to havg "damage the md. This is why the possibily of havg two active Premier League players speak up about beg gay is such an important topic for the LGBTQ+ muny at the moment.

There are mours about other gay players, but remas to be seen if they will e out publicly while still nversatns about the topic will surely ntue to the World Cup, pecially wh thoands of spectators flockg to Qatar to enjoy the event. The Blackpool FC forward is now the only openly gay, active profsnal soccer player the UK. Jake Daniels, a forward for England's Blackpool Football Club, me out as gay on Monday, beg the UK's only active profsnal soccer player and first to e out 30 years.

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

"I've known my whole life that I'm gay, and I now feel that I'm ready to e out and be myself.

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FORWARD BE UK'S FIRST ACTIVE MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER TO E OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY

Last year, the fensive end Carl Nassib me out as gay, beg the first openly gay man to actively play the NFL. EXCLUSIVE: Coll Mart has opened up on the barriers that may be stoppg gay players the Premier League om publicly g out. 07:30, Mon, Dec 26, 2022 | UPDATED: 19:29, Mon, Dec 26, 2022 Premier League returns: Arsenal's mid-season reviewSan Diego Loyal midfielr Coll Mart believ that a number of prsg factors may be preventg gay Premier League players om g out and feelg fortable about beg themselv the public eye.

There are currently no openly gay players England's top flight, although Blackpool youngster Jake Daniels beme the first male profsnal footballer the UK sce Jt Fashanu to e out back of progrs has been ma regardg homosexualy football over the last few years, but the subject remas somewhat taboo and there is still work to be done orr to ntue breakg down the stigma at all levels om the Premier League down to grassroots. Mart, who me out as gay back 2018, believ that almost anythg n ntribute to players not wantg to publicly reveal their sexuali, cludg their fay suatns, the advice given by their reprentativ or negative attus om team-mat and ach. JUST IN: Chelsea target Yosoufa Mooko issu fur rponse to 'li'Coll Mart has opened up on the barriers preventg gay players om g out (Image: GETTY)"We don’t always know the factors for gay athlet, what’s gog to keep them the closet or not.

More There are no openly gay players the Premier League as thgs stand (Image: EXPRESS)"Yeah, I’m sure [there are], maybe there are players who are qutng their sexualy or who are maybe bisexual and yeah, I’m sure there are closeted players, " add Mart. "Coll Mart, San Diego Loyal soccer player, who me out as gay 2018, has partnered wh BonFr and LGBT HERO to unrstand reprentatn and attus towards the LGBTQIA+ muny US profsnal team sports.

EVRA: THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO GAY PLAYERS AT EVERY FOOTBALL CLUB

At least 20 footballers Premier League and Champnship are gay but they're aaid to e out says ex-club bossOpenly gay Leeds Uned director David Haigh says players nfid him - and he believ clubs uld benef mercially if stars e outDavid Haigh durg his time at Leeds UnedAt least 20 football stars are gay and “aaid” to e out, a top club’s ex-director claims. He was openly gay durg a spell as Leeds Uned MD 2013-14 and says many homosexual players nfid him as a rult.

“Young stars advertise brands wh sponsors and beg gay is still seen as a handip.

JOSH CAVALLO: ONLY OPENLY GAY TOP-FLIGHT MALE FOOTBALLER SAYS FIFA’S ‘ONELOVE’ ARMBAND BAN HAS MA HIM FEEL ‘EXCLUD’

He spoke out after Belgium fenr Carl Hoefkens told how he had played wh two Premier League footballers who were gay but publicly ‘ the closet’. Mr Haigh was openly gay wh board members and fans at Elland Road, and says many gay players nfid him as a rult. Some top stars are open about beg gay wh team mat, but feel too sred to tell their fans, Mr Haigh claims.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* ARE THERE ANY OPENLY GAY FOOTBALLERS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Unnamed Premier League footballer reveals he is gay letter but says he n't go public | UK News | Sky News .

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