Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard believes football needs a gay hero to help change the prejudice of fans.
The Dane claimed it would be the reception of supporters rather than team-mates which would be crucial to encouraging a player to come out as gay.
"As a footballer I think first and foremost that a homosexual colleague is afraid of the reception he could get from the fans," the 28-year-old said.
"My impression is that the players would not have a problem accepting a homosexual.
"Homosexuality in football is a taboo subject. The atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands is tough.
"The problem for me is that a lot of football fans are stuck in a time of intolerance that does not deserve to be compared with modern society's development in the last decades.
"While the rest of the world has been more liberal, civilised and less prejudiced, the world of football remains stuck in the past when it comes to tolerance.
"Homosexuals are in need of a hero. They are in need of someone who dares to stand up for their sexuality."
Update:
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what do you think?
andy may
amusing that footballers see themselves as tough but think it acceptable to roll around on the ground crying when touched by another player or start putting in official complaints when they've been called a name!!! the atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch is not tough, it is retarded.
Ben Ralph
Tough atmosphere? Is that tough as defined by bigotry in all its guises, disgusting chants about players' families and disasters that have affected specific clubs? That's not tough. That's moronic.
Mark Ames
By the look of some of them with there hairbands & slobbering all over each other there already appears to be plenty of gayness in football.
t.bulgin
Why is he talking about it ? and why did I get here by clicking on a related stories link on a page about Thomas Vermaelen ?
infamousaljones
9:55am on 28/11/2012
John o Shea?