Retired German Hitzlsperger: 'Long Way' From Seeing Openly Gay Top-Flight Player

Former German midfielder THOMAS HITZLSPERGER said there is "a long way to go" before there will be an openly gay man playing in a top league, according to the BBC. Hitzlsperger, who retired because of injury in September, "revealed his sexuality on Wednesday." Hitzlsperger: "We still have a long way to go because we fear a reaction and we don't know what will happen. I can't imagine playing football and doing this at the same time." Hitzlsperger, who also had spells at West Ham and Everton, "admitted he thought about coming out while he was still playing." But he "decided against doing so because he felt the resulting scrutiny on him might have proved too much of a distraction from on-pitch matters" (BBC, 1/9).