MP claims three British footballers are on the brink of coming out
By Josh Lee
Three professional footballers may be preparing to come out of the closet, according to one British politician.
The Metro reports that Scottish Nationalist Party MP John Nicholson told FA chairman Greg Clarke that “three players are in talks with the FA about coming out and they haven’t done so yet,” during a Department of Culture, Media and Sport hearing into homophobia in football yesterday (December 13).
Clarke had previously told the Culture, Media and Sport committee that he was “ashamed” that no professional footballers were out, proud and active within English football, adding that he would be “cautious about advising [footballers] to come out” in the current climate.
The problem within English football is reflected in other parts of the worlds. Jesús Tomillero, Spain’s first openly gay referee, has been subjected to death threats since he came out last year, while earlier this month a Mexican football official claimed that calling players “puto” (used in a similar way to “fag”) wasn’t offensive. And former Attitude cover star Robbie Rogers spoken out after receiving homophobic abuse from another player during a match in the US back in August.
Meanwhile, in the January issue of Attitude, The Pass star Arinzé Kene said that, while researching for his role as a closeted footballer, he was “pretty much told” that the professional footballer he was speaking to “knows some gay footballers.”
You can read our full feature with The Pass’ Arinze Kene as well as our interview with Christine and the Queens and see her exclusive shoot in Attitude’s January issue, available to download now from pocketmags.com/attitude.
It’s in shops now too and print copies are available to order globally from newsstand.co.uk/attitude.
