Former Chelsea defender: Support gay footballers

Former England defender Graeme Le Saux has urged the entire football fraternity to support gay footballers.

The former Chelsea FC player suffered years of baseless claims about his alleged homosexuality.

-The important thing isn't whether or not there are gay players in professional football, Le Saux told BBC Radio Jersey.

environment

-The point is that the environment is such that if they are, they feel that they can achieve and the profession will support them, he added.

 -At the moment I still don't think that's there. I think ultimately it's up to football to really face those demons and actually say 'we're going to stand up for people, whatever their colour, creed or sexuality' and actually give them the opportunity to say 'if I want to be a football player I'm confident enough to try, continued the Englishman.

accusations

 Le Saux began his career at Jersey club St Paul's, going on to play 513 games for Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton.

But his desire not to live the archetypal footballer's life led to unfounded accusations that he was gay.

-I think about my football career and maybe some of the negatives, and the one good thing, the one true thing, was that I've always been myself, he explained.

principled

 -I've always stuck to my principles, I've always stood up and taken what I needed to take emotionally and physically, and not strayed from that. So to actually say to someone 'I'd probably just keep your head down' goes against my principles, said Le Saux

-But I think ultimately that was very much the culture of football and even now to an extent, added Le Saux.

 The rumours surrounding Le Saux's private life came to a head when Le Saux and then Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler clashed at Stamford Bridge.