Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp lauded Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo for his bravery in coming out, but says he hopes there can be a day when a similar announcement won’t be seen as “necessary”.
Since Cavallo came out last week, the biggest names in football have come out in support of the 21-year-old.
Football superstars including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford, Sam Kerr, Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Pique were among many to praise Cavallo for his bravery.
During a recent press conference, Klopp said it was a “problem” that society still puts pressure on gay athletes to speak out about their private life.
“I think we all agree, it should not be like this,” Klopp said.
“Obviously, Josh doing that and it being such a big story, that is the problem we have…that it’s not normal or that he has to make an announcement and that he’s not just living his private life, and nobody should be bothered by that.
“What I can tell you with 30 years in the industry, I never had a dressing room where it would have been a problem at all.”
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The Liverpool manager said the sport and its players aren’t particularly the problem, rather the perception that’s played out among society.
“The problem is not the inner circle, the problem is the wider thing. We all have to work on it,” he added.
“It’s very disappointing that we still have to work on it, but we have to work on it, that’s how it is.
“This kind of news is not necessary, nobody has to make an announcement like that… I didn’t have to say that I’m hetero. These types of things should just be completely normal.
“I saw his speech or announcement and he looks like a really strong, smart young man and I really wish him all the best.
“I’m really thankful that he did it because now we talk again and I’m not sure when was the last time we talked about this subject and now we talk again and that’s always a good start for changes.”