Joey Barton: We must accept openly gay footie stars

Suicide ... sad ace Justin Fashanu

"I'm sorry, we have a reputation. We have our name to protect, we are not all working to be scandalised by one member of our family."

Amal confronts her father, asking: "But do you think going on TV and saying the things that you did was the best way to handle it?" He sobs: "I did what I thought was right for our family, and myself. We tried as a family. I wonder all the time, 'Could I have done more'? And I keep coming up with the answer, 'Yes I could have'. Does that console me? No."

Also on the show, gay comic and Arsenal fan Matt Lucas says players hiding their sexuality should make a stand. He says: "If you're a good player, and you're popular, your own fans would protect you."

But PR guru Max Clifford, who claims to know SIX gay players, says he has advised them that coming out would ruin their careers.The world's only current openly gay footballer backs Barton — insisting that homosexual players are wrong to think they could not come out and be accepted.

Swedish midfielder Anton Hysén, son of ex-Liverpool star Glenn, revealed his sexuality last May.

He said: "Nobody cares — though they do more jokes now. I'm like, 'It's OK, I don't care'! I'm strong and I did have a lot of support."

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