Fear of fans stops gay players from coming out: Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers

The fear of fans, and their probable vile chants during away games, stops gay players from making their sexual orientation open, felt Robbie Rogers.

The former Leeds United and United States player Robbie Rogers said that he wanted to focus on football and not have to deal with the abuse that he believed would be inevitable.

“It’s a little bit sad,” Rogers told BBC Radio. “Fans need to realise that what you’re saying to players, especially when you are on that level…. you need to think it through before you start yelling at players.”

But, he did not believe that the abuse was from anti-gay sentiment.  He added that he didn’t think fans in England or fans in the US are homophobic. It was just that they were so passionate about the game, and therefore would do anything to help their team get an upper hand.

Yet, despite his initial beliefs and fears about returning to football, Rogers has made the decision to return to the game. The 26-year-old Rogers has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. He understood that playing soccer not only fulfilled him but also offered him the chance to be a role model to people.