Stonewall CEO: ‘I know of gay Premier League footballers’
By Sam Rigby
Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt has revealed that she knows of gay footballers in the Premier League who are too afraid to speak publicly about their sexuality.
According to Hunt – who succeeded Ben Summerskill as Chief Executive of the LGB rights organisation earlier this year – said that the players are concerned about more than just abuse from the stands.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, she said: “I think we are bit of a way off before a player is able to come out.”
On whether she knows of gay players, she replied: “Yes they exist. And what they say is that they are concerned about management, they are concerned about sponsorship and they are also concerned about the kind of abuse they would get from fans – not from their own fans – but fans from other teams.”
Hunt also expressed her surprise at the abuse directed at a gay rugby union referee recently.
Nigel Owens was the subject of “vitriol” from fans during England’s recent fixture with the New Zealand All Blacks at Twickenham – read more here.
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