CRYSTAL Palace assistant manager Keith Millen says he understands the issues some footballers may have if they decide to come out as homosexual.
ON Wednesday last week, Thomas Hitzlsperger revealed he was gay to the German media, but he is now retired after playing for the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton in the Premier League.
And Millen believes football in particular could be harder to deal with than other sports.
He told the Advertiser: "That would be the biggest issue. Football fans are probably most different to other sports.
"Any sort of stick they can give the opposition, they are sure of doing that, aren't they?
"The banter in football, I would say is different to any other sport.
"Even among the environment on the training ground, there is stick and banter flying around. You can get that as well from the terraces.
"I can see why it would be harder in football than maybe other sports."
