According to reports, a teenage player has informed his Championship team that he would come out as gay next week.
According to The Sun, the player intends to make the declaration in a broadcast interview in order to “break the stigma” surrounding gay players in men’s professional football.
The player is expected to become Britain’s first openly homosexual professional male footballer.
According to sources, the athlete is ‘very relaxed’ about his sexuality, and he has the full support of his Championship club’s teammates and authorities.
“The player told club officials and his manager about this a few weeks ago and his family already knew,” the source told The Sun.
“The club made it very clear it was his decision and they would back what he wanted to do.
“He told his teammates, some as recently as Friday, and they offered him their backing too.
“Football dressing rooms have moved with the times and none of the players see it as a big deal.
“They are all more interested in how he plays and trains. He is a highly valued member of the team.”
There is now just one openly homosexual professional footballer in the world: Josh Cavallo, 22, of Adelaide United in Australia.
Justin Fashanu, the latest male professional British footballer to come out as homosexual, made his sexuality public in 1990.
He unfortunately committed suicide eight years later.