The Duke of Cambridge praised footballer Jake Daniels for popping out as homosexual, saying that it was brave and will ‘break down boundaries’.
Prince William tweeted that he hoped it could give different individuals the arrogance to be open about their very own sexuality.
Yesterday, the 17-year-old Blackpool ahead turned the primary male skilled footballer in England to come back out as homosexual in 32 years, in an interview with Sky.
He made his senior debut for the membership final month and determined it was the best time to talk publicly about his orientation.
‘Now could be the best time to do it. I really feel like I'm prepared to inform individuals my story. I would like individuals to know the actual me,’ he mentioned.
President of the FA William mentioned at this time: ‘Soccer needs to be a recreation for everybody.
‘What Jake has carried out takes braveness and can hopefully assist break down boundaries that haven't any place in our society.
‘I hope his determination to talk overtly offers others the arrogance to do the identical.’
Within the interview broadcast yesterday, Mr Daniels mentioned: ‘I can’t actually put a date on it, however I used to be in all probability 5 - 6 years outdated after I knew I used to be homosexual. So it’s been a very long time that I've been dwelling with the lie.
‘At that age you don’t actually suppose that soccer and being homosexual doesn’t combine. You simply suppose, sooner or later, after I’m older I’ll get a girlfriend and I'll change and it will likely be positive.
‘For a very long time I’ve thought I must cover my reality as a result of I needed to be, and now I'm, an expert footballer. I requested myself if I ought to wait till I’ve retired to come back out. No different participant within the skilled recreation right here is out.
‘Nevertheless, I knew that will result in a very long time of mendacity and never with the ability to be myself or lead the life that I wish to.’
Justin Fashanu turned the primary male British skilled footballer to come back out in 1990 earlier than he took his personal life eight years later on the age of 37.
His niece Amal, who runs the Justin Fashanu Basis, preventing homophobia and racism in soccer, mentioned: ‘If my Uncle Justin had been alive I do know he would have been one of many first individuals to have contacted Jake to supply his assist and greatest needs. Justin’s want was to create a society the place individuals may merely be kinder to 1 one other and the place bigotry doesn’t exist.
‘Jake’s announcement will come as an enormous consolation to the various footballers in any respect ranges of the sport – from grass roots to the skilled leagues – nonetheless secretly dwelling as homosexual and who nonetheless really feel unable to come back out.
‘The unhappy actuality is there's nonetheless a variety of homophobia within the recreation, in any respect ranges. Till the authorities take agency and extra decisive motion I'm involved many gamers will proceed to stay in secret, wrongly believing they've one thing to be ashamed of.
‘Homophobia within the recreation must be handled with the zero tolerance method racism rightly receives. Solely then could we see extra gamers, like Jake, keen to step out of the shadows – and stay the life they really want to.’
There are at the moment no different male gamers at the moment taking part in professional soccer within the UK who've come out as homosexual.
Blackpool FC mentioned: ‘Blackpool Soccer Membership has labored carefully with Stonewall and the related footballing organisations to assist Jake and is extremely proud that he has reached a stage the place he's empowered to precise himself each on-and-off the pitch.
‘It's critical that all of us promote an atmosphere the place individuals really feel comfy to be themselves, and that soccer leads the best way in eradicating any type of discrimination and prejudice.’
Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull Metropolis youth participant Thomas Beattie each revealed they had been homosexual after they retired from soccer.
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