Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek hailed for 'classy' response to Twitter rumours he was gay

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been praised for his response to rumours he was gay on Twitter.

The Chelsea midfielder has dismissed the rumour, but said that any player who does come out as gay would have his ‘full support and respect’.

England international Loftus-Cheek felt the need to respond after suggestions he had already come out to his Chelsea team-mates and was preparing to go public.

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There are no openly gay professional footballers in England currently and charity Stonewall UK continue to run their rainbow laces campaign to ensure LGBT people are welcomed by the sport.

Plenty of users responded to Loftus-Cheek’s Tweet saying it was the ‘perfect’ response and that he had done more for the community than other co-ordinated campaign from clubs.

Last month a Chelsea fan was fined just under £1000 and banned from attending games for three years after shouting homophobic abuse at Brighton fans.

Former Aston Villa and West Ham footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger came out after he retired, while former Leeds and Stevenage full-back Robbie Rogers only revealed his sexuality after he had stopped playing in England and returned to the USA.

Whilst many footballers say a gay player would be accepted in the changing room, it is the fear of abuse from the terraces that stops players coming out.

But the hope will be that if other high-profile players follow Loftus-Cheek’s lead, homosexual footballers will feel empowered to come out and ensure the LGBT community is accepted in football.