Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has reacted to the news that an Australian footballer has come out as gay.
Last week, 21-year-old Australian footballer Josh Cavallo, who represents Adelaide United in the A-League, revealed in an emotional video that he was gay.
According to The Guardian, he is the only active player who is believed to currently be out, with Cavallo saying he hopes to inspire others to live their truth.
His statement was met with praise from around the footballing world, including from Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who sent a kind message to Cavallo via Twitter just hours after his announcement.
Klopp has echoed the Spanish centre-back's sentiments, but added that he hopes to see this sort of thing in the sport becoming more normalised.
"It's a big story but that's actually the problem we have: that it is not normal, or that he has to make an announcement about it instead of living his private life and nobody being bothered about that," he said, according to the Daily Mirror.
"What I can tell you is that in 30 years in the industry, I never had a dressing room where it would have been a problem at all.
"The problem is not the inner circle, the problem is the wider thing: crowds in the stadium, they use things to try and give you some stick, and that will happen for sure.
"That's very disappointing, but we all have to work on it, to make sure that this kind of 'news' is not necessary, that nobody has to make an announcement to open up.
"I saw his speech and he looks like a really strong, smart young man. I wish him really all the best. I'm thankful he did it because now we talk about the subject again, and that's obviously a good start for changes."
