Anonymous Premier League Player Comes Out as Gay in Open Letter

An anonymous Premier League player has written an open letter coming out as gay, stating that he will not come out publicly while playing due to the homophobic environment in football.

Despite the advances made in attitudes and equality, no male player in the top five leagues of English football has come out during their playing career since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

Former West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger came out following his retirement, while ex-Leeds winger Robbie Rogers intended to hang up his boots after coming out in 2013 - but went on to continue playing in the United States.

The Sun has published an open letter aimed at authorities and fans from a closeted, anonymous Premier League player, which depicts the struggles of hiding his sexuality from everyone bar a small group of friends and family members.

"I still have to pinch myself when I run out and get to play each week in front of tens of thousands of people," the player wrote. "However there is something that sets me apart from most of the other players in the Premier League. I am gay.

"Even writing that down in this letter is a big step for me. But only my family members and a select group of friends are aware of my sexuality. I don’t feel ready to share it with my team or my manager.

"That’s hard. I spend most of my life with these guys and when we step out on the pitch we are a team. But still, something inside me makes it impossible for me to be open with them about how I feel."

The player says that he realised he was gay when he was 19, and that keeping it a secret is taking a toll on his mental wellbeing.

"Day-to-day, it can be an absolute nightmare," he added. "And it is affecting my mental health more and more. I feel trapped and my fear is that disclosing the truth about what I am will only make things worse. So, although my heart often tells me I need to do it my head always says the same thing: “Why risk it all?”"

The player is receiving support from the Justin Fashanu Foundation, but says the PFA must make 'radical changes' before a professional footballer feels comfortable to come out - citing the homophobic chanting he has often heard from supporters as a real issue.

"What those running the game need to do is educate fans, players, managers, agents, club owners — basically everyone involved in the game. If I was to make that step I’d want to know that I would be supported at each step of my journey. Right now, I don’t feel I would be.

"As things stand my plan is to carry on playing for as long as I feel able to and then come out when I have retired."