Tom Daley says fans not players are keeping footballers in the closet
"You’ve seen how the England fans reacted to the Euros with racism and homophobia," the 27-year-old has said.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: BBC
Tom Daley has said it is fans keeping gay footballers in the closet, as opposed to other players.
Speaking in an interview with the Radio Times, the Olympic diver pointed to last year’s Euros final scandal as evidence of the bigotry of fans.
There are currently no out gay football players in the English Premier League; however, Australian A-League midfielder Josh Cavallo did come as a gay last year.
“It’s down to the fans”
Olympian Tom told the publication: “It’s a really hard thing and it takes that one brave person to do it first in football. I think it’s down to the fans.”
The former Attitude cover star added: “I don’t think the people in the teams will have any particular reaction to it.
“But you’ve seen how the England fans reacted to the Euros with racism and homophobia. I think it’s about being brave and being able to share your personal story.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, the husband of Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black [above] also revealed an insight into the couple’s life and that of their three-year-old son Robbie Ray.
“He loves to find things and jump off them and scare the living daylights out of me,” the 27-year-old said. “But then Lance says: ‘Well, what do you expect? You climb up things and jump off things for a living…’
“But it freaks me out. I look back and think: ‘How did my parents deal with watching me do what I do every day and not be petrified?’”
Attitude’s new-look March/April issue is out now.
