Channel 4 releasing documentary exploring what happens to LGBTQ+ Premier League players who come out

Channel 4 is set to release a documentary detailing what LGBTQ+ Premier League players would experience if they chose to come out.

The one-hour special, titled Football’s Coming Out, will examine how fellow players, football fans, social media users and financial donors respond to the news.

A 30-second-trailer for the film opens with former professional Joleon Lescott saying: ‘It can be a lonely place to be for that person.’

‘People will target you if an outcome to a game isn’t what they want,’ he adds.

The programme will include a variety of high profile stars including Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford; former Premier League manager Ian Holloway; and Matt Morton, Britain’s highest-ranked openly gay footballer for Thetford FC.

Speaking about the programme, digital commissioner Thomas Pullen said: ‘This important and compelling documentary has been over a year in the making and it’s great that we are finally able to bring it to our audiences on All 4 and Channel 4’s YouTube channel.

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford appears in the documentary (Picture: Getty)

Football coach Joleon Lescott stresses how ‘lonely it is’ for players who come out (Picture: YouTube)

‘In the doc, we have spoken to a series of incredibly bold figures from the football industry who have all been open and willing to contribute to this much needed and crucial conversation on LGBTQ+ representation in the one of the most popular sports in the world.

‘I sincerely hope that this documentary can be a springboard for more conversation around a subject that is still deemed taboo by many and by watching this documentary, LGBTQ+ players current and future can feel encouraged to be their most authentic selves in the sport they love.’

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Jack Newman, executive producer of Bullion Productions, expressed his hope that discussions around LGBTQ+ representation will continue once viewers have seen the show.

‘Working with Channel 4 and our array of important contributors, we hope that the documentary furthers these conversations and works as a road map for those players who are yet to come out publicly,’ he said.

Football’s Coming Out will launch on All 4 and Channel 4’s YouTube on January 25.

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