England football team manger Roy Hodgson has said that he did not believe there were any gay footballers, as he had never come across any players who had aroused his suspicion. Hodgson made the claims as he spoke to students at elite Cambridge University. He said that it is not his world when he was questioned about whether he thought there were gay players, The Daily Star reported.
Hodgson then added that he has not come across any players who've found themselves in that position. He said that he has not come across any players who would even arouse his suspicion that they would like to come out but are fearful of doing so. Hodgson further said that it would be unrealistic in football to not accept that there are a number of people who are gay, because it covers every other walk of life. He added that he is quite naïve on the subject and has not got strong opinions on it.
Retired former Aston Villa, West Ham United and Everton star Thomas Hitzelsperger became the most high profile footballer to reveal he was gay in January this year. The ex-Germany international, nicknamed Der Hammer for his feared left foot drives, retired in September 2013. He said in January that in England, Italy and Germany being a homosexual is no big thing, at least not in the dressing room, adding that he was never ashamed of being who he is but it was not always easy to sit on a table with 20 young men and listen to jokes about gays.
Hitzelsperger had also said that one lets them get on with it as long as the jokes are somewhat funny and not too insulting. He added that being gay is a topic that is 'ignored' in football and not 'a serious topic in the changing room'. Former Leeds player Robbie Rogers also came out last year, weeks after being released by the club and the American now plays for David Beckham's former US side LA Galaxy. In 1990, former Norwich, Manchester City and West Ham star Justin Fashanu became the first player to announce he was gay. He committed suicide in 1998, the report added.
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