Top GAA referee David Gough has questioned why some of Ireland’s top sports stars are ‘afraid’ to come out as gay.
The openly gay referee is one of few figures in Irish sport to come out in recent years, and said that coming out has only helped improve his life as he received nothing but support.
But he noted that there are plenty of athletes in elite sport that have not come out, and he questioned what the barriers stopping them from doing so are.
Appearing on Virgin Media Tonight, Gough said he felt that the barriers in front of those athletes are just perceived hurdles.
“There are a huge amount of people, not only in the GAA, but in elite sport in Ireland that are afraid to come out (as gay),” Gough said.
“You only have to look at 64 inter-county teams, League of Ireland, we’ve an awful lot of international players playing in the Premiership, we’ve four provincial Rugby teams, Hockey, Boxing, we could name a number of sports here.
“And there are no elite gay male athletes coming out in those sports, the questions needs to be asked why? Why are they struggling?
“What are the issues? What are the barriers and hurdles that are stopping them coming out?”
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He added: “I have received nothing but huge support from my own colleagues on the refereeing panel, I found the media nothing more than positive, certainly here in this country.
“My life has been positively enhanced since I came out, so I can’t see any major barriers or hurdles – just perceived barriers – and that’s what I feel the issue might be”.
