Gala Faireydeen Rovers striker Xander Murray has develop into the primary Scottish senior footballer to pose as homosexual.
He is the primary overtly homosexual participant within the males’s skilled ranks in Scotland since Justin Fashanu with Airdrie and Hurts within the mid-Nineteen Nineties.
The 30-year-old Lowland League participant follows the instance of referees Craig Napier and Lloyd Wilson in June.
“The weight of the world seems to have been taken off my shoulders,” Murray informed the membership’s web site.
“The club boys have been very supportive. Before you come out, you think people will turn against you and you think the worst – I’m blown away by the support.”
Murray made this determination after attending his first Pride occasion whereas on trip.
“I haven’t always been off to go to these things, but I love it,” he stated. “The vibe was fantastic and everyone was just free and happy and that was great for me.
“I additionally wish to assist different gamers who’re battling it as a result of it’s not simple for males, particularly footballers to cope with it.”
Murray stated that dwelling within the closet “was wreaking havoc with my life”, so “I put up a publish on my social media telling individuals I used to be homosexual”.
English striker Fashanu moved to Airdnance three years after coming out as gay before later playing for Heart of Midlothian and remains the only openly gay player to play in Scotland’s top tier.
Blackpool forward Jake Daniels described Murray as his “wonderful” decision in May, following two Scottish referees, but the gala striker is disappointed that there is no platform supporting young gay male footballers.
“Of course there are homosexual footballers in our recreation and I’ve contacted a number of gamers saying they’ve learn my publish and so they cannot consider how robust I’m by doing this,” Murray stated.
“Women’s soccer is one other ball recreation. They are fully numerous and open and that’s one thing that needs to be within the males’s recreation.
“Hopefully SFA can work with other leagues and partners and see the support and drive how we help other players.”
Gala chairperson Ryan Cass stated “everybody” on the fifth-tier membership “fully supports Xander”.
“We are glad for him that he feels comfortable coming out,” he added. “Xander has shown a lot of bravery and I am sure he will get the support he deserves from the entire football family in Scotland.”
With inputs from BBC
