DBasia.news – Watford captain, Troy Deeney, acknowledged that the rest of the football team, especially in the English League, has at least one player who is gay.
The former Norwich striker, Justin Fashanu, is the only football player who openly recognizes being gay in the history of English football.
Deeney believes, there are still many players who keep their identity as being gay. However, these players are worried about the stigma that will be labelled upon them.
“I would say there might be one or two gay people on each football team. They are there, they are 100 percent there,” Deeney said as reported by the BBC.
“I think people who are gay or from the community must be worried as they have to bear the responsibility of being the first. I think, when the first person opens up, there will be many who follows.”
Deeney feels, when there are gootball players who openly declare as being gay, other players who have been in the closet will open up. Deeney predicts there will be at least 100 players in the first week.
“I think there is now a bigger place than ever to be a gay athlete.”
In 2019, Australian footballer, Andy Brennan revealed to the public that he was gay. After the announcement, Brennan became more focused on playing football without having to hide his sexual orientation.
“Six months ago I often thought about it, tried to hide it, and get rid of it because I thought it would be felt by many people,” Brennan explained to the Herald Sun.
“You have to realize who you are and you have to be yourself – whether you are gay or whatever, whoever you are,” said the player.