Homophobia must be tackled, gay sportsman tells FA

Britain’s most high-profile, openly gay Gareth Thomas urged the FA to support gay footballers (Rex Features)

The former Welsh rugby captain, Gareth Thomas, has urged the Football Association to make a public statement in support of gay footballers to break down homophobic prejudice in the game.

In a BBC documentary, Britain's most high-profile, openly gay sportsman claims talented players will be frightened away from a professional career unless the sport takes action to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

"I think if the FA were to make a statement saying ... we will stamp on anything, then it would create a safer environment that's comfortable for the footballers," said Thomas, 37.

He was interviewed for the programme Britain's Gay Footballers, to be shown on BBC3 tonight. It is presented by Amal Fashanu, a model whose uncle, Justin Fashanu, was the last openly-gay professional footballer. The former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest striker, who suffered abuse after "coming out", committed suicide in 1998.

In the show, Ms Fashanu tearfully confronts her father, the former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu, about his public hostility to his brother after he revealed his sexuality. He tells her the family was "scandalised" by Justin's revelations in a series of press articles. "Cheap, dirty, horrible scandals day after day. On the front page, saying you've had sexual relationships with MPs," he told his daughter. "We have a reputation. We have a name to protect."

Ms Fashanu is also told by QPR's Joey Barton: "These archaic figures think if they had a gay footballer there would be all kinds of shenanigans going on in the dressing room."

A spokeswoman for the FA said action was being taken at "grassroots" level to tackle homophobic prejudice.