Popular rugby referee Nigel Owens has given some well-worded advice to the British footballer, who is reportedly preparing to publicly come out as gay.
The Welshman has advised him to be prepared for the media storm in the wake of his announcement.
Statement following my meeting today. #LGBTQIA pic.twitter.com/31hjcvSb2V
— The Gay Footballer (@FootballerGay) July 6, 2019
‘The Gay Footballer’ Twitter account, which was created last week, has over 24,700 followers and is purported to belong to a second-tier player.
Owens told talkSPORT: “Rugby is an inclusive sport, people have come out and been able to get on with their careers like myself.
“Rugby is a sport that allows you to be yourself
“Everybody is now waiting to see what happens in football and that probably is hindering the individual from coming out.
“It’s going to be a very interesting week because everybody is waiting to see who it is. That is human nature I suppose.
I’m a professional footballer, playing for a club in the @SkyBetChamp. I will be revealing my identity soon, but I am a proud gay man, hoping to break the mould. I am under the age of 23, and today I came out to my family. Soon, I will come out publicly. #loveislove #Pride #LGBT pic.twitter.com/CFzvOQ5Q1L
— The Gay Footballer (@FootballerGay) July 5, 2019
“Everybody, particularly the tabloids, Press and media are all waiting to see how the footballing world is going to react to this person, whoever it may be.
“Put all that into context and for this individual he knows when he announces his name, whichever way he’s going to do it this week, every social media platform, every radio and television station, every tabloid and newspaper, possibly the front and back pages, is going to run the story who he is.
“Particularly if he is a very well-known footballer as well.
“For you to be that person, the first one to dip your toe in the water in the footballing world is going to bring a lot of media attention and a lot of pressure on you.
“You have to be a certain type of person to cope with that as well.”