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Matt Jarvis: Gay players would be welcomed
Friday 04 January 2013
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EmailFootball: West Ham footballer Matt Jarvis believes the sport is more than ready to welcome any stars wanting to come out, as he became the third player to appear on the cover of Britain’s leading gay magazine.
The married 26-year-old midfielder features on the front of February’s Attitude, following on from David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg.
And the Irons star insisted that there would be no issue should any footballers decide to come out.
“It’s everyday life,” he said.
“I’m sure there are many footballers who are gay, but when they decide to actually come out and say it, it is a different story. It’s one that I’m sure they’ve thought about many times. But it’s a hard thing for them to do.”
Jarvis also believes that coming out could improve a player’s performance.
He added: “I’d agree with that. Because you’ve always got something you’re worried about at the back of your mind.
“If you can let that go and then just concentrate on your one goal, which is whichever sport you’re doing to the best of your ability, I think that would help. Definitely.”
No professional footballer has come out publicly in Britain since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
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