Nigel Owens delivers his verdict after football referee David Coote comes out following scandal

about the challenges of hiding one's sexuality.

"Homophobia remains a problem in all sport," Owens remarked, but emphasised it is particularly serious in football, where some online comments are "horrendous."

Coote, 42, opened up about the pressures he faced both personally and professionally. In, he revealed, "I'm gay and I have struggled with feeling proud of being 'me' over a long period of time."

The former referee, who officiated over 100 top-flight matches, admitted that these struggles contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December.

He apologised for his actions, describing them as "private moments taken during very low times in my life," and highlighted the abuse he had already endured during his career. "To add my sexuality to that would have been really difficult," Coote said.

Nigel Owens, the first openly gay man to referee in international rugby, spoke candidly on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast

"When you are struggling with your identity, it's a very difficult and sometimes very dark place to be in," he said. Owens, who came out in 2007, reflected on his own journey, acknowledging the mental health battles that often accompany such secrecy.

"Rugby is probably way ahead here and has shown the way. Football has to catch up," he asserted.

Owens highlighted the importance of fostering an inclusive environment in all sports, where individuals feel comfortable being themselves.

"You just need to look at social media today," he said. "The comments about David Coote's sexuality show there are still horrendous, horrible people out there."

While progress has been made, Owens believes there is still much to do. "People wonder why we are still talking about this, but those comments show exactly why some still feel the need to live a lie."

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