That the English Football Association canceled the launch of a film intended to confront homophobia prompted The Guardian's Patrick Barkham to report on homophobia in soccer: "While English football's administrators dither, homophobia endures in the modern game. The stadiums may be plusher than ever but they still reverberate to offensive anti-gay chants, and homophobic 'banter' is widespread in dressing rooms."

Of about 4,000 professional soccer players in England and Wales none will openly acknowledge they are gay. Former Chelsea and Celtic star Paul Elliott, who works with soccer diversity campaign group Kick It Out, has said at least 12 Premier League players are gay. After Gareth Thomas, Wales's most-capped player came out, the publicist Max Clifford revealed that he advised two high-profile gay Premier League stars to keep their sexuality secret because soccer "remains in the dark ages, steeped in homophobia."

Barkham asks, "Who is to blame for the repression and prejudice hanging over soccer? Abusive fans? Homophobic teammates? Or the stuffed shirts at the FA and leading clubs who haven't a clue about the modern world?" Thomas only came out toward the end of his career and admitted that he "could never have come out without first establishing myself and earning respect as a player," but then spoke of "the amazing response" he received.