The 25-year-old former Leeds midfielder, who left the League One side Stevenage last month, wrote on his blog that he had been afraid of revealing his sexuality, but that he is now leaving football.

Rogers, who made 18 appearances for the United States, wrote on his blog: “Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay.

“Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.”

Rogers also tweeted the message to his 78,000-plus Twitter followers on Friday, and several of his United States teammates expressed their support.

Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden wrote: “Much love and respect to my boy@robbierogers ! Proud to be your friend bro,” while DaMarcus Beasley wrote: “I have a lot of respect for my boy @robbierogers. good luck in your next adventure man!!”

Eddie Pope, who played in three World Cups for the United States and is now the director of player relations for the MLS Players Union, tweeted: “@robbierogers Brave men like you will make it so that one day there’s no need for an announcement.That day can’t arrive soon enough.#Support”

Chris Basiurski, chairman of the Gay Football Supporters Network, said he hoped that Rogers could have played on if he wanted to after coming out.

“I’d be disappointed if (he’s retired) because he felt as though he couldn’t still have a career,” he told Press Association. “What we want to do within our organization is create an atmosphere where a player could come out if they wanted to without fear. If he feels he has to retire after this it shows there is still some way to go to create that atmosphere.”

No British-based professional player has come out since ex-Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu in 1990. He committed suicide eight years later at 37.

Last month, West Ham winger Matt Jarvis became the third footballer to be featured on the cover of the UK’s best-selling gay magazine, “Attitude”, after David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg.

Although not gay himself, Jarvis insisted gay footballers should feel comfortable enough to come out.

Gordon Taylor, chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, told Press Association that the PFA knows of more active players who are not comfortable coming out.

“I’m pleased that he’s come out for his own sake,” Taylor said. “… We know of players who are playing who are gay who’ve not had that confidence as yet. But, as the rest of the world becomes more civilised, hopefully that will come.”

The Chicago Fire acquired Rogers’ rights last week in the event that he planned to return to the MLS. He last played for the U.S. team in 2011 and played on the under-23 squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The post Robbie Rogers says he’s gay in blog appeared first on IdealCapper.

The France midfielder was dismissed in the first half of the defending champions’ 4-3 Barclays Premier League win at Carrow Road for an alleged headbutt at Sebastien Bassong.

Manager Roberto Mancini indicated after the game on Saturday that an appeal would be lodged but, after further thought, the club have now announced there will not be a challenge.

“The Football Association has confirmed that Samir Nasri will serve a three-match suspension, following his red card during the 4-3 win at Norwich on Saturday. Nasri will now miss the New Year’s Day visit from Stoke City, the FA Cup tie with Watford (January 5) and the trip to Arsenal on January 13,” the club said in a statement.

Nasri reacted angrily to a challenge from Bassong in a manner that was seen as violent conduct. Mancini maintains the dismissal was harsh but conceded, as he met the media early on Monday to preview the Stoke game, an appeal may not succeed.

Appealing would have allowed Nasri to face Stoke as, due to the holiday season, a hearing would not have been heard until Wednesday. But by doing so the club would run the risk of having the ban extended if the appeal was deemed frivolous.

With Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure and Abdul Razak now due to depart for African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast after the Stoke game — rather than after Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Watford as first thought — it was considered too much of a gamble.

“We don’t know what can happen if we appeal. Usually they reject an appeal. This could be a problem because after this game we lose three players — Yaya, Kolo, Razak and we don’t want to lose another,” Mancini said.

The post Samir Nasri banned three matches appeared first on IdealCapper.