[bbfan1991]

United States and ex-Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers says he is "stepping away" from football after announcing he is gay.

Rogers, 25, who was released by Leeds after a loan spell at Stevenage, is only the third footballer to publicly declare his homosexuality.

"I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity," said Rogers.

"Now is my time to step away. It's time to discover myself away from football."

The Football Association have said they will offer their support to Rogers and he has their full backing, regardless of whether he continues his career.

The California-born player, who won 18 caps for his country, made the announcement in a message posted on his personal website on Friday.

"For the past 25 years I have been afraid, afraid to show who I really was because of fear," said Rogers, who has been without a club since leaving Championship side Leeds last month.

"Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay.

"Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined… I will always be thankful for my career.

"[Now] my secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended."

Only two other footballers have publicly said they are gay, despite a number of high-profile male and female homosexual athletes from other sports openly discussing their sexuality in recent years.

In 1990, former England Under-21 international Justin Fashanu was the first professional footballer in Britain to reveal he was gay. He took his own life eight years later, aged 37.

Swedish lower league player Anton Hysen, son of former Liverpool player Glenn Hysen, publicly announced his homosexuality in an interview with a Swedish football magazine in 2011.

Darren Bailey, The FA's director of football governance and regulation, added: "Following the announcement by Robbie Rogers on Friday, The FA is trying to make contact with him offering our support.

"Whether Robbie stays in the game or steps away for a break he has our full backing."

The FA last year launched a six-point action plan to make the game more inclusive as well as tackling homophobia and transphobia.

Well done to him for having the courage to admit that and it is a shame he has retired from football.

[Marcus.]

well done to him

[lostalex]

Love him. Shame he's leaving the sport, but i hope he gets the support from his family he deserves. Especially now that he's gonna be going through such a huge change in his life. Everything he said was basically what i wrote to my parents when i was 15, it all sounds so painfully familiar. I remember exactly how it felt.

[Shaun]

Really brave of him, and I admire him, but I'm a little confused as to why he's retired so young. From what I understand he's got a lot of support and friends, seems like an odd age to give up on such a distinguished career.

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Really brave of him, and I admire him, but I'm a little confused as to why he's retired so young. From what I understand he's got a lot of support and friends, seems like an odd age to give up on such a distinguished career.

I read that he's very injury prone as well... I find his actions commendable and I hope he inspires other footballers to come out, as he is now at this time one of only two openly gay footballers.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

I read that he's very injury prone as well... I find his actions commendable and I hope he inspires other footballers to come out, as he is now at this time one of only two openly gay footballers.

The other one's Swedish or Finnish isn't he?

I imagine more will follow over the years, since other sports are paving the way (what with Gareth Thomas, Steven Davies and Orlando Cruz recently)

[bbfan1991]

I am sure he will get lots of support from his loved ones and all the best in what he does next.

Hopefully he will inspire footballers who are gay and are scared to come out to be brave and to stop feeling like they have to hide it from people. The football authorities still need to do more about this issue too.

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Shaun

The other one's Swedish or Finnish isn't he?

I imagine more will follow over the years, since other sports are paving the way (what with Gareth Thomas, Steven Davies and Orlando Cruz recently)

Swedish yeah. Anton Hysen.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Really brave of him, and I admire him, but I'm a little confused as to why he's retired so young. From what I understand he's got a lot of support and friends, seems like an odd age to give up on such a distinguished career.

Hopefully when he see's all the support he has, he'll change his mind and continue his career.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Really brave of him, and I admire him, but I'm a little confused as to why he's retired so young. From what I understand he's got a lot of support and friends, seems like an odd age to give up on such a distinguished career.

Did you see that documentary about gay footballers? I can totally understand him not wanting to play anymore.

Originally Posted by Ninastar

Did you see that documentary about gay footballers? I can totally understand him not wanting to play anymore.

I agree, but he's been released by his old club, and has been without anyone to play for, for a few months. His footballing career isn't really going anywhere, so this could have just been the catalyst for a complete fresh start. I'm sure he'll be doing interviews over the coming months so it will all reveal itself.

[King Gizzard]

Reading his post earlier I don't think it's a case of retiring because he's gay and being fearful of the backclash he might receive, I just think he generally doesn't enjoy it and wants to see the world

Can't say I blame him, I don't think I'd fancy playing in League 1 week in week out (he was on loan at stevenage this season)

[King Gizzard]

I'm not sure it will inspire others to come out really, as brave and good as it is, it would still be a lot worse pressure and a bigger news story say a Premier League household name came out

this story, so far, hasn't even really been covered much by the media, Rogers is relatively unknown

[Brother Leon]

Can only see people coming out once they have retired tbf. It would take someone really massive like Ronaldo doing it while playing to change it imo. Good on him either way.

[Z]

Very brave of him to come out, the footballing world is not an accepting place.

[lostalex]

so just out of curiosity,... i've got a question for all the str8 guys...

If yu were the last one in the locker room with him, would you let him blow you?

[Marcus.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

This is a video posted since he came out... It's nice to see suport from his colleagues, coaches, and from his league. so cool.

We support Robbie!

Youtube video

awww video was sweet

Originally Posted by lostalex

so just out of curiosity,... i've got a question for all the str8 guys...

If yu were the last one in the locker room with him, would you let him blow you?

no i would not lostalex

[Marc]

Who is he.

I don't think you'll ever see anybody from a big team announce this. There's bound to be a couple gays in the premier league.

[lostalex]

This is a video posted since he came out... It's nice to see suport from his colleagues, coaches, and from his league. so cool.

We support Robbie!

Youtube video

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by lostalex

This is a video posted since he came out... It's nice to see suport from his colleagues, coaches, and from his league. so cool.

We support Robbie!

Youtube video

Nice thing to do to show support....hope he finds happiness and peace....

[Ninastar]

That video is really really sweet.

[Niall]

I don't really have any interest in football usually, but I'm still happy to see this story. I mean it's sad too knowing that there are only 2 openly gay football players currently, but hopefully he'll inspire others in the sport to change their minds and come out.

[BBfanUSA]

I think there's a few Women Footballers that are openly gay as well. But Women's sports doesn't get the respect it deserves.

Anyway I think he's brave for coming out. I think if he does come back to play football he'll be accepted by the MLS and all of it's fans along with the national team.

(Glad my Sounders are supporting him and I'm sure the rest of the MLS is as well.)

[Brother Leon]

Inb4trialforaclub

[BBfanUSA]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Inb4trialforaclub

Speaking of that, I saw something on twitter saying that he was training with the MLS (Top US league) club LA Galaxy. Looks like he's coming out of retirement

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...ller-la-galaxy