Thomas Hitzlsperger

[Mattshark]

Good on him.

[dom9]

Just because he's gay you don't think he deserved so many caps?

Yes of course.

[lickedlollipop]

very brave thing to do from Hitzlsperger

[Pablo]

Fair enough

It is encouraging to see the odd sportsman feel comfortable enough to go public now isn't it . If this slow momentum continues one day this type of thing won't be newsworthy at all, it'll just be the norm.

[dom9]

Fair enough

It is encouraging to see the odd sportsman feel comfortable enough to go public now isn't it . If this slow momentum continues one day this type of thing won't be newsworthy at all, it'll just be the norm.

If this continues, a high-profile player who has not retired might do it.

I can't believe that in 2014 this is a discussion topic. I can't get my head around that.

[Bender]

Rob Harris @RobHarris 2m
Confirmed by @honigstein that the apparent Hitzlsperger Twitter account (@Thoma****zl) is fake. Who sets up these accounts?

[MrsB]

I can't believe that in 2014 this is a discussion topic. I can't get my head around that.

depressing, actually.

[Daffy Duck]

If this continues, a high-profile player who has not retired might do it.

I can't believe that in 2014 this is a discussion topic. I can't get my head around that.

Exactly, this shouldn't even be a thing - 'Good on him for coming out' - nobody should care whether he likes men instead of women.

[jonnygrunter]

Totally agree. IM more interested why he retired at an early age, was he **** or just injured? He had a rocket of a left foot.

[Alex]

Read earlier that it was a combination of moving around clubs loads, being injured and sort of being fed up with playing.

[Mark79]

Was surprised by his caps tally too but I suppose we only saw him at the beginning and end of his career. But in between that he was a successful player in the Bundesliga, played a big part in winning the title with VfB Stuttgart and also captained them too.

[EwarWoo]

Exactly, this shouldn't even be a thing - 'Good on him for coming out' - nobody should care whether he likes men instead of women.

"To those that lament this is not or should not be "news," tell that to the LBGT youth who every day struggle against anti-gay bullying and even suicide for lack of hope in their lives. It does matter."

That's from someone who had is own issues with coming out and a very good reason why it is newsworthy.

It really shouldn't matter, but it does.

[Leyton388]

Fair play to him for doing it. 52 caps for Germany though that's very impressive.

[Daffy Duck]

That's from someone who had is own issues with coming out and a very good reason why it is newsworthy.

It really shouldn't matter, but it does.

I know what you mean, it does matter and it is a big step, but my point was that this should not even be an issue for people and that all these factors like violence, bullying and suicide that make it hard for homosexual people to be openly gay should not even occur in the first place.

[Fosterbloke]

It's a big deal because football seems to have an issue with gay players.