Probably one gay footballer in every team, says Troy Deeney

Striker sure it would not be an issue if a player came out

Watford captain Troy Deeney. Picture Alex Broadway/Getty

Watford striker Troy Deeney claims there is probably one gay player in every football team.

Deeney believes that gay footballers are worried about shouldering the responsibility of publicly coming out but feels one doing so would lead to many others following their lead.

Talking on the BBC Podcast Grounded with Louis Theroux, the 31-year-old said: “I would go on record saying that there is probably one gay or bi person in every football team. They’re there, they are 100 per cent there.

“I think people that are gay or from that community definitely are very worried about having to shoulder the responsibility of being the first. I think once the first comes out, there would be loads.”

Deeney does not believe it would be an “issue” if a high-profile player acknowledged they were gay or bisexual.

He added: “If he come out and said it, I genuinely believe you would get in the first week at least 100 people that went ‘me too’. Just because they don’t want to be the face of it.”

Deeney, who returned to action for Watford in a friendly on Saturday ahead of the Premier League return, added: “I think there is now a bigger platform than ever to be a gay athlete of any nature.

“I also wonder, why people finish football, rugby, whatever the sport it might be, and then go ‘I am gay’... I feel like it must be a real heavy load to carry throughout all your whole sporting career.”

Ex-Hearts striker Justin Fashanu, who declared he was gay in 1990 and died in 1998, remains the only openly gay male footballer in British history.

Grounded with Louis Theroux is available to listen to on BBC Sounds every Monday and BBC Radio 4 every Wednesday at 8pm.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director