West Ham player Matt Jarvis appears on cover of gay magazine to show support

West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis posed for UK’s famous gay magazine Attitude, after David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg.

Jarvis has insisted it is time a gay footballer felt comfortable enough to come out and believes that doing so could aid an individual’s on-pitch performances. “It’s everyday life. It’s not something that’s going to be a shock,” 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.”

When asked if being out could improve a player’s performance, Jarvis responded: ‘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.’

Justin Fashanu, The first £1m black footballer, killed himself due to the abuse he faced after he came out in 1990, and the only player to come out since is Anton Hysen of the Swedish lower leagues.

However, Jarvis is of the belief that a homosexuality is more acceptable now and a modern player should support gay footballers as it is a matter of choice.