Clubs and players ‘should be punished if Jake Daniels receives homophobic abuse’

Footballing authorities should issue strong punishments if Blackpool striker Jake Daniels is subjected to homophobic abuse from fans or players.

That is the opinion of Carl Fearn, the co-chair of Gay Gooners – the first and largest LGBT+ fans group in England with over 1,100 members across the world.

In May, Daniels became the first male professional footballer in England to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

He told Sky Sports News: ‘Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me. I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.’

Homophobic abuse continues to rear its ugly head at stadiums up and down the football leagues, and Fearn believes Daniels will undoubtedly be the recipient of it next season, revealing he’s heard that such chants are being readied by fans ahead of time.

Fearn says any clubs not taking steps such as pre-match announcements at stadiums or on social media to attempt to stop abuse being directed at Daniels, should be hit with point deductions.

‘It’s almost like… about time because we know that they’re out there,’ Fearn tells Metro.co.uk on Daniels coming out.

‘We’re never going to push them but when they do come out we will absolutely support them because we know that they will get abuse.

‘Jake will be getting abuse next season.

‘He’s struck me as being incredibly mature for a 17-year-old. We absolutely admire him for having that courage to come out.

‘As a co-chair of an LGBT football supporters’ group, I would like to see the EFL pre-empting trouble, rather than reacting to trouble.

‘I would want the EFL