Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes professional footballers would have no problem with their teammates being gay but believes other external factors mean players can not feel confident in their sexuality.
Klopp's comments come after Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo publicly announced he was gay and sympathised with other players out there "living in silence."
The Reds boss branded Cavallo "a really strong, smart young man" and was confident that dressing rooms across the game would have no issue with their teammates sexuality.
“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.
“What I can tell you is that in 30 years in the industry, I never had a dressing room where it would have been a problem at all.
“The problem is not the inner circle, the problem is the wider thing: crowds in the stadium, they use things to try and give you some stick, and that will happen for sure.
“That’s very disappointing, but we all have to work on it, to make sure that this kind of ‘news’ is not necessary, that nobody has to make an announcement to open up.
“I saw his speech and he looks like a really strong, smart young man. I wish him really all the best.
“I’m thankful he did it because now we talk about the subject again, and that’s obviously a good start for changes.”
Klopp has shown his support for the LGBT community before, wearing rainbow laces on his shoes during a match back in December 2019.
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