Gary Lineker hails Jake Daniels for bravely announcing he is gay in historic moment

Gary Lineker has hailed the brave decision taken by Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as gay and says his decision will encourage others to follow his path.

Daniels, 17, has become the UK’s first openly gay professional footballer in over 30 years after Justin Fashanu came out in 1990. The teenager revealed his sexuality publicly on Monday and said he felt “relief” to come out to the world, having already opened up to his family and team-mates.

And Lineker praised the youngster’s courage for being a trailblazer for others to be inspired by, predicting that he will be embraced by his fellow professionals following his announcement: ”I think he will be massively accepted," Lineker told BBC Sport. "Not just in his own dressing room but players he plays against. I think, overall, dressing rooms wouldn't think about it. They will consider if you're a good footballer or not. That's all that matters.

"I'm so pleased as I think he is going down a path many others will follow and I think the game will be better for it. Once they see that the overwhelming majority of people will be accepting, others will follow suit."

Lineker was joined by actor Sir Ian McKellen, who is openly gay and an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, in commending the teenager: "At 17, @Jake_Daniels11 represents a generation that rejects old-fashioned homophobia in football and elsewhere: those who haven’t yet grown up as he has," McKellen tweeted. "He sets an example. No wonder so many of us, gay and everyone else, admire & treasure him as a hero. What a goal he's scored!"

Daniels, who said he knew he was gay from an early age, consulted with his family, Blackpool, LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall and Sky Sports before deciding to go public. “Now is the