Sutton: No better time for a footballer to come out

Chris Sutton's comments come in the wake of FA chairman, Greg Clarke's comments that an openly gay player would receive "significant abuse" from fans.

"Once the first gay footballer comes out, others will follow," Sutton wrote in a column for the 'Daily Mail'.

He added: "There has never been a better time for a footballer to come out and say 'I am gay'.

"Fellow footballers would certainly be supportive.

"It will be the best thing that happens to the homophobia debate".

Sutton also said that "99.9% of people would share the same view", but conceded that some away supporters may not be supportive.

Former Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu was the first player to come out as gay in 1990, but committed suicide eight years later.

Since then, no male players have come out in England during their playing days. Former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlesperger came out in 2014, but this came after retirement from professional football.