Back to the Aston Villa Newsfeed

'It's not the media, it's not the fans, it's the DRESSING ROOM': Ex-Premier League star Thomas Hitzlsperger says that pressure inside football clubs is keeping gay players from coming out in the men's game

Former Aston Villa player and social activist Thomas Hitzlsperger has said that he believes the reason why more male footballers have not come out as gay is because of the pressure it would put on the dressing room.

The Germany international was a Premier League fixture in the 2000s and 2010 when the midfielder started for Villa, West Ham, and Everton, and the player also enjoyed spells at Lazio and Wolfsburg.

After retiring from his playing career in 2013, Hitzlsperger came out as gay and has since used his platform to raise awareness for diversity issues within the game with the German FA.