After years of reassurance, two German footballers came out to Germany's Rund Magazine, yet refused to be identified for fear of "professional suicide". One player admitted to having an affair with a childhood friend, building a web of deception to cover his tracks. According to Deutsche Welle:

One player, who is married, said even his wife had no idea he was gay and that he was involved in a long-term relationship with a childhood friend. "But what am I to do? Coming out would mean death," he was quoted as saying in the article.

The other gay player profiled said that a female friend in the know often accompanied him to club celebrations and parties to give the impression that he was straight.

Homophobia in soccer's nothing new and in recent years the sport's seen a shift in perception, joining the struggle to overcome stereotypes on and off the pitch. While the UK has regulations on anti-gay jeering, Germany's yet to adopt such a strident stance.

Tatjana Eggeling from the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology at the University of Göttingen estimates that there are more than two dozen gay players, but says:

As things stand now, I wouldn't advise a single German soccer player to come out because it would be just too much of a risk for him, both for his career and personal life.

The last professional soccer player to come out was Justin Fashanu (pictured), who ended up losing his contract, being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year old and eventually committed suicide in 1998.