Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has said football needs a “gay hero”.  The Guardian has reported that Lindegaard has published a blog post on the subject of homosexuality in football and called for football to catch up with the rest of society in its attitudes to homosexuality. He wrote that- “Homosexuality in football is a taboo subject. The atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands is tough. The mechanisms are primitive, and it is often expressed through a classic stereotype that a real man should be brave, strong and aggressive. And it is not the image that a football fan associates with a gay person.

"The problem for me is that a lot of football fans are stuck in a time of intolerance that does not deserve to be compared with modern society's development in the last decades. While the rest of the world has been more liberal, civilised and less prejudiced, the world of football remains stuck in the past when it comes to tolerance."

The Danish international criticised the Danish FA for not doing enough to combat the issue in Danish football, while associations such as the KNVB (the Dutch FA) have released this ad, which encourages gay footballers to have the courage to be open about their sexuality.

Lindegaard doesn’t think the major issue for a gay player coming out would be fellow pros, but rather that the reaction from the fans and media may stop any gay footballers from being brave enough to come forward. "I think first and foremost that a homosexual colleague is afraid of the reception he could get from the fans. My impression is that the players would not have a problem accepting a homosexual."

Justin Fashanu remains the only openly gay footballer in the history of English football, with less than a handful of players having come out around the world. Fashanu was disowned by his brother, fellow professional footballer John Fashanu, following the decision and committed suicide in 1998. He admitted that he had endured abuse from football crowds as well as some opposition players and ex-pros following his decision.

Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby player, and Orlando Cruz, a boxer, have both come out in recent years as the first openly gay men in their respective sports.