Two Premier League players are preparing to come out as gay - which would make them the first British footballers to make the announcement while still playing at the top levels of the game.

One of the men is believed to be an England international star and both have already told their families and friends and have the full support of their respective clubs and the Football Association.
The Daily Mirror reports the men will come out publicly before the start of the next season.

A source told the newspaper:

'The stigma has completely gone and the public are far more accepting.
'It has always been such a macho game and, unfortunately, perhaps more than in any other sport, there can be an aggressive mob mentality in the stands.
'But finally the tide is turning and more and more sports people are openly gay.' 

The paper also reports that another famous player came out to friends in 2011 - but shortly afterwards a homophobic slur was painted on his car.

Nottingham Forest and Norwich City striker Justin Fashanu remains the highest profile star to reveal he was gay, but he suffered years of abuse and eventually killed himself in 1998 aged 37.

John