German football player Phillip Lahm has released a memoir in which he advises gay players not to come out of the closet. Phillip believes that the negative repercussions of leaving could end the athletes' careers.
"I would not advise any gay professional player to come out of the closet. I am afraid that players could end up like Justin Fashanu, who after coming out ended up committing suicide," Lahm wrote.
However, the Bayern Munich captain said he has no problem with gays. "I have nothing against homosexuals and I don't consider homosexuality to be something reprehensible," said the athlete.
The topic is not new in German football. In June 2010, Michael Becker, a top sports agent in the country, declared that the elegance of the German World Cup team was due to the fact that there was a "bunch of gays" on the team.
Still in 2010, in November, Bayern Munich player Mario Gomez encouraged gay players to come out of the closet. “Being gay should no longer be a taboo topic,” declared Mario.
In February 2011, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer endorsed Mario's statements. "Yes, those who are homosexual should say so. It would take a load off their minds... And the fans would get over it quickly. What is important to them is the player's on-field performance and not his sexual preferences," said Manuel.
