Football Association chairman Greg Clarke had hoped to make contact with gay professional footballers.
Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has told the Daily Telegraph that he has failed in his attempts to make contact with any gay professional footballers.
Clarke encouraged homosexual players in January to come out and suggested several could do so together in order to share the spotlight.
However, on a recent tour of the country, the FA chief says he was unable to meet any gay footballers, while stating that he can understand their reasons for not wanting to do so.
Clarke said: "I understand the reticence. I went to the women's cup final. It was great. There was gay, there was straight, there were kids, it was relaxed. It was like a big wedding reception. I had a great time. There was no judgment in the room. Everyone was there because they wanted to see the game.
"I've met a lot of gay activists, gay publishers. I went down to Stonewall [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights charity], watched a game, had a beer in the bar afterwards -- and talked about the issues. At the semi-pro level and below, nobody's worried. I haven't met one player at professional level who would even agree to meet me in the middle of nowhere for a conversation over a cup of coffee. Not one.
"I don't blame them for that. If they don't feel comfortable having that conversation, it doesn't say good things about our game."
Clarke added: "Why would you sign up for that potential risk if it's working for you, if you're happy? You might think, 'Why do I need to share my sexuality with anybody?' I respect that. Where I worry is that there may be people who want to be openly gay but don't feel able to be openly gay. If they do, they should be comfortable, accepted and supported."
Clarke said he did not want to make any assumptions about potential gay players' reasons for not wanting to come out, but said the game needed to win their trust.
He said: "I don't want to speculate about what's in their heads. They obviously don't feel comfortable. I've spoken to the Premier League, the EFL [English Football League], the PFA [Professional Footballers' Association], the LMA [League Managers' Association].
"We are all desperate to make the game more LGBT-inclusive. We haven't yet won the trust of the professional gay players. I've reached out. I've seen athletes, swimmers, divers, I've gone everywhere. And they've shared their views with me. I've said, 'Why won't gay footballers meet me?' They've all said, 'I don't know because I don't know any gay footballers.' They're very deeply buried."
Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-United States international Robbie Rogers have both spoken out about their homosexuality in recent years, but only after retiring or leaving English football.
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Source: espn.co.uk