Thierry Henry just sent the best message to any gay footballer wanting to come out

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Football star Thierry Henry has sent an incredible message of support to any gay players wanting to come out.

Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, the former Arsenal star said it was good for football if gay players want to come out – and that he would still go to lunch with an out gay teammate.

He was responding to speculation that two gay football players in the English Premier League are on the cusp of coming out.

Former footballer Thierry Henry watches the 2015 NBA global game between Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks at the O2 Arena in London on January 15, 2015. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Henry said: “It’s kind of weird to talk about it because when I was in MLS – Robbie Rogers came out and said that he was. And the first question as you can imagine… I said for me ‘it is not a problem’, but making it a problem becomes a problem.”

He went on to say that people’s questions to gay athletes when they come out make the issue into a problem.

“Going around ‘do you think it is right, do you think it is wrong?’ – well in the society in which we are living it is ok – it is normal. So why make it a problem? For me it is not a problem. I can play with you its not a problem we are ultimately there to do a job. Whatever you believe in, whatever you do, it’s not my problem, it’s your prerogative.

“I’m saying that people sometimes are making it too much of a problem. It should be okay by now – we are living in a different time, a different world and people should accept. that.”

Asked by Burley whether he meant footballers shouldn’t publicly announce that they are coming out, Henry responded: “They should, but I am saying the reaction of others: ‘oh wow oh’ – I think it’s great, I think it is great for the game – we are going forward – it is great for any human being.

“If you are confident enough to come and say it and live with it, and have that meeting with yourself and embrace it, so be it. And do it! I was talking more about the reaction of others.”

Burley then asked whether Henry thought the Premier League, or professional football in general would accept gay players coming out.

He responded amazingly: “I can’t talk for everyone but if I was in a dressing room, that guy would still have been my teammate, and I would have still given him the ball, and I would still see him in the same way. I would still go out and have lunch. We are all human beings at the end of the day so it doesn’t bother me.

“Obviously we have to talk about it but ultimately we have to talk about it, but we are all human beings at the end of the day.”

Comments (0)

MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.

Loading Comments