BBC Survey Details British Sports Fans' Attitude Towards Gay Players

Eight per cent of football fans in England, Wales and Scotland would stop supporting their club if they signed an openly gay player, according to a BBC Radio 5 live survey. 

However, 82 per cent of Britain's sporting supporters "would have no issue with a gay player," while 18 per cent believed gay players should "keep it to themselves" in response to a separate question.

Per BBC Sport, the results have come from a survey of more than 4,000 fans of 11 different sports.

It also revealed 47 per cent of sports fans—and 50 per cent of football supporters—have been aware of homophobic abuse at matches.

The revelations come in the wake of Football Association Chairman Greg Clarke recently admitting to being "cautious" of encouraging gay players to come out due to the risk of the abuse they might receive from the terraces.

Clarke told BBC Radio 5 live on Wednesday that the FA is not currently equipped to protect players, per BBC Sport's report: "If they want to take that risk [to come out] I would respect them and support them. But we can't promise to provide them at the moment with the required protection. We need to redouble our efforts to provide that safe space."

The Daily Mail's Adam Crafton bemoaned the results of the survey despite the vast majority of fans saying they would have no issues with gay players in sport:

Meanwhile, 1994-95 Premier League winner Chris Sutton condemned Clarke for taking "the easy way out" and said the eight per cent not open to gay players should be banned from football stadiums, per BBC Sport:

"

Coming out wouldn't be a problem in the workplace. Working at a football club is just like anywhere else. Players I played with wouldn't bat an eyelid.

This 8 per cent shouldn't be allowed in football grounds. By not taking it on, the 8 per cent are the winners in all of this. Greg Clarke should be taking these people on.

It's bonkers in our society that people like this can dictate whether someone can come out or not.

"

There has never been an openly gay active player in the Premier League. Wakefield Trinity's Keegan Hirst became Britain's first openly gay rugby league player when he came out in 2015.

BBC Radio 5 live's survey revealed that 57 per cent of sports fans believe gay players should come out to encourage others to do the same, but 71 per cent of football supporters said clubs should do more to educate on homophobia.