Three footballers are in talks with the FA about publicly coming out as gay, according to MP John Nicolson.
I understand that there are three players in talks with the FA [Football Association] about coming out and they haven't done so yet,� Nicolson, a former BBC journalisttold Sports MinisterTracey Crouch.
Crouch says she remains committed to stamping out homophobia in football and condemned comments made by FA chairman Greg Clarke, who told a committee back in October that an openly gay player would receive 'significant abuse.'
First openly gay footballer in Europe calls for open discussion on sexuality among UK players https://t.co/eCcolD5Fy0
"If you've got comments right at the top saying now is not the right time, no wonder, in many respects, that they remain scared," Crouch said.
The legislation is in place. It's there to help combat homophobia in the whole of society. It's as applicable to football and to any other sport as it is to anybody else.
And, therefore, the idea that the time isn't right now, they were strange comments. I thought they were disappointing comments under the circumstances.�
Crouch added that right now is the best time for a gay footballer to come out, citing statistics of a recent poll which indicated the vast majority of supporters would have no issue with a gay player.
. @tracey_crouch nothing about this is strange, sadly it's just realistic https://t.co/a8DHQhmlMC
There are these research points out there. Nine out of 10 people would not be bothered; the Radio Five poll of 4,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland said that most fans would be comfortable with their club signing a gay player; 82 per cent of supporters said they had no issue with a gay player.
So, in terms of the environment of somebody coming out, actually, today, now, [there] has probably never been a better time to come out.
And, therefore, that's what was disappointing about the chairman's comments.�
John Fashanu became the first footballer in England to come out in 1990, but committed suicide just eight years later. Thomas Hitzlsperger became the first Premier League player to reveal his sexuality in 2013. Former England women's Casey Stoney became England's first footballer to come out.