Impossible to be openly homosexual in football, says France star Olivier Giroud

The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player.

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'When I saw the German Thomas Hitzlsperger come out in 2014, it was very emotional,' he said. 'That was when I said to myself it's impossible to display homosexuality in football.'



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Hitzlsperger, a former German international, is the most high-profile former footballer to come out, doing so a year after announcing his retirement.

READ: Thomas Hitzlsperger comes out as gay

READ: World's first gay rugby club turns 20

There are currently just two openly gay professional players in world football, Minnesota United's Collin Martin and Sweden's Anton Hysen.

Justin Fashanu, Britain's first £1 million black footballer, became the first openly gay professional footballer in 1990.

'In the dressing room, there is a lot of testosterone, teasing and communal showers,' Giroud said. 'It is delicate but that is how it is.

'I can understand the distress and the difficulty for guys to come out -- it is a real challenge after working on yourself for years.'

READ: From humble beginnings, Gay Bowl attracts NFL sponsors and touches lives

Giroud has been involved in campaigns while at former clubs Arsenal and at Montpellier, where he appeared on the front cover of gay magazine Tetu, to raise awareness of the issues LGBT people face.

English clubs will again take part in a campaign later this month which will aim to raise awareness of homophobia in football, with rainbow laces, corner flags and captains' armbands on display at grounds around the country.

'I am ultra tolerant,' Giroud said. 'When I was at Montpellier, I was involved in the fight, notably doing the cover of Tetu.

'At Arsenal, when they asked me to wear the rainbow laces in support of the gay community, I did it. There is still a lot of work to do in the world of football on this subject, that's an understatement.'

'At Arsenal, when they asked me to wear the rainbow laces in support of the gay community, I did it. There is still a lot of work to do in the world of football on this subject, that's an understatement.' 'In the dressing room, there is a lot of testosterone, teasing and communal showers,' Giroud said. 'It is delicate but that is how it is. READ: World's first gay rugby club turns 20 READ: From humble beginnings, Gay Bowl attracts NFL sponsors and touches lives Giroud has been involved in campaigns while at former clubs Arsenal and at Montpellier, where he appeared on the front cover of gay magazine Tetu, to raise awareness of the issues LGBT people face. 'In the dressing room, there is a lot of testosterone, teasing and communal showers,' Giroud said. 'It is delicate but that is how it is. The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player. The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player. English clubs will again take part in a campaign later this month which will aim to raise awareness of homophobia in football, with rainbow laces, corner flags and captains' armbands on display at grounds around the country. The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player. The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player. The Chelsea star, speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro, said it is an 'understatement' to say the sport is not ready to accept an openly gay player. 'At Arsenal, when they asked me to wear the rainbow laces in support of the gay community, I did it. There is still a lot of work to do in the world of football on this subject, that's an understatement.' READ: World's first gay rugby club turns 20 English clubs will again take part in a campaign later this month which will aim to raise awareness of homophobia in football, with rainbow laces, corner flags and captains' armbands on display at grounds around the country. English clubs will again take part in a campaign later this month which will aim to raise awareness of homophobia in football, with rainbow laces, corner flags and captains' armbands on display at grounds around the country. Justin Fashanu, Britain's first £1 million black footballer, became the first openly gay professional footballer in 1990. English clubs will again take part in a campaign later this month which will aim to raise awareness of homophobia in football, with rainbow laces, corner flags and captains' armbands on display at grounds around the country. 'I can understand the distress and the difficulty for guys to come out -- it is a real challenge after working on yourself for years.' There are currently just two openly gay professional players in world football, Minnesota United's Collin Martin and Sweden's Anton Hysen.

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