The larger world outside of football clubs, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, is the greatest impediment to more professional players being honest about their sexuality.
Josh Cavallo, an Adelaide United midfielder, came out as gay last week and said he knew other players were “living in silence.”
"I was ashamed I'd never be allowed to do what I love and be gay," Cavallo, 21, wrote in a message on social media.
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally. I’m tired of trying to perform at the best of your ability and to live this double life. It’s exhausting. It’s something that I don’t want anyone to experience.”
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Cavallo went on to state that, despite his fears of being shunned by teammates, he has gained more respect, calling coming out to peers and coaches “amazing.”
Klopp praised the Australia Under-20 international for starting a conversation about the subject and said he does not believe there would be any adverse reaction from inside dressing rooms if other players took the same step.
"Of course I think it should not be like this," Klopp said. "It's a big story but that's actually the problem we have: that it is not normal (common), or that he has to make an announcement about it instead of living his private life and nobody being bothered about that.
