Professional Footballers’ Association chairman John Mousinho believes the day is coming when more players feel comfortable coming out but warned the game still lags behind society.
The Oxford defender hailed Blackpool’s Jake Daniels after the forward came out on Monday, becoming the first openly gay active professional footballer in the UK since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
Daniels is a trailblazer in football but Mousinho can see a time when players coming out will be treated as normal.
Mousinho told the PA news agency: “Yes, I can, though I don’t think it’s going to be any time soon.
A message from Jake Daniels. https://t.co/R2wEsniXKVpic.twitter.com/dcznYKtSaD— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) May 16, 2022
“Sometimes football is ahead of society and sometimes, in this case, football is behind society.
“These issues about someone coming out in my lifetime has moved on a huge amount but football is maybe 30-odd years behind. I think it will take time, hopefully not 30 years, but I can envisage that day. It will come, hopefully sooner rather than later.
“There are probably days if you rewind 30, 40 or 50 years where you couldn’t have envisaged the landscape as it is now.
“Hopefully it’s going to be the start of a much more inclusive game, especially on the men’s side. We already see it on the women’s side. The fact this is such big news is great but we also want to shift so these announcements are much more regular and normal.”
Daniels, 17, has been widely praised within football from clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City and AC Milan, the PFA, the FA and former and current players, with England skipper Harry Kane tweeting his backing.
Massive credit to you @Jake_Daniels11 and the way your friends, family, club, and captain have supported you. Football should be welcoming for everyone. https://t.co/x0MLZnBkjM— Harry Kane (@HKane) May 16, 2022
Support is clearly there, with Mousinho’s only concern the reaction from the terraces when Daniels plays in front of fans.
“The football family has got behind him. It feels like a watershed moment because of the bravery it takes to do it and how well he has handled himself,” Mousinho said.
“We have discussed this at the PFA and we knew the reaction internally would be positive but the acid test is what happens when we see the fans’ side of the game.
“I know the majority will be 100 per cent behind Jake but what are away fans going to do? What are we going to see when things get difficult? It’s sad I’m thinking about it but it’s always been my concern with a player coming out.
“The dressing room has moved on massively since I turned pro 17 years ago. There’s still a bit of improvement to do but this announcement will help. The dressing room is a much more safe, inclusive place but I worry about what goes on outside of that.”
Daniels was inspired to come out by Adelaide’s Josh Cavallo, Thetford manager Matt Morton and athletes from other sports, including Olympic diver Tom Daley.
“It’s been quite a crazy year,” Daniels told Sky Sports News. “I’m 17. I’ve signed a professional contract. I’ve scored 30 goals this season and I’ve just made my first-team debut in the Championship, coming off the bench against Peterborough.
“And now I have decided to come out. Everything has happened at once but it feels right.
“When this season started, I just wanted to prove myself as a player. I think I have. So this was the one last thing in my head that I knew I needed to do.
“Now it’s out, and people know. Now I can just live my life how I want to and, you know what? It’s been incredible.”
